Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Uber Appeals Against Ruling that Its UK Drivers Are Workers (theguardian.com)

Posted by msmash on from the hmm dept.

Uber has launched an appeal against a landmark employment tribunal ruling that its minicab drivers should be classed as workers with access to the minimum wage, sick pay and paid holidays. From a report on The Guardian: The taxi-app company filed papers with the appeal tribunal on Tuesday in an attempt to overturn the October judgment that, if it stands, could affect tens of thousands of workers in the gig economy. The move came as several dozen Uber drivers picketed City Hall on Wednesday holding placards demanding Transport for London, which licences Uber as a private hire operator in the capital, "end sweated labour now." It also mounted a protest at the City of London offices of Salesforce, a US computing company that is a major Uber client. Two Uber drivers, James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam, took Uber to court on behalf of a group 19 others who argued that they were employed by the San Francisco-based company, rather than working for themselves. Uber's business model has been based on treating drivers who log on to its app as self-employed contractors and taking a cut of their fares, which Uber dictates.

4 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Mixed Feelings by sinij · · Score: 3, Informative

    Just because traditional cabs are such vile and corrupt system, doesn't mean that Uber that replaces them with gig drivers is not a corrupt and vile system.

  2. Re:Mixed Feelings by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 3, Informative

    There are already plenty of viable ways to work independently in the UK. Well over a million of us do so all the time, through freelancing, contract work, partnerships, and other arrangements. We knowingly and willingly make different trade-offs to employees in terms of protections, compensation, flexibility and other factors, and if you get it right, this can bring advantages to both the professional and their customer/client.

    However, what you're not allowed to do under UK law is put someone in a position where they're being treated like an independent in respects like employment rights and taxation, yet still required to give up the practical independence and flexibility that non-employees normally enjoy in return.

    --
    If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
  3. Re:In Other News by Knuckles · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here is the thing: just because someone says something you don't think is right, or you disagree with, THEY ARE NOT A TROLL. Please show me that the definition of a contractor is the ability to set your own rate, you troll!

    Let me google this for you: https://www.gov.uk/employment-...


    •        
    • they’re in business for themselves, are responsible for the success or failure of their business and can make a loss or a profit
             
    • they can decide what work they do and when, where or how to do it
             
    • they can hire someone else to do the work
           
    • they’re responsible for fixing any unsatisfactory work in their own time
             
    • their employer agrees a fixed price for their work - it doesn’t depend on how long the job takes to finish
             
    • they use their own money to buy business assets, cover running costs, and provide tools and equipment for their work
             
    • they can work for more than one client
    --
    "When I first heard Daydream Nation it quite frankly scared the living shit out of me." -- Matthew Stearns
  4. Re: In Other News by Type44Q · · Score: 3, Informative

    With all due respect, we've read enough of your posts to know that if you're not a troll, you're a fucking moron. No offense meant; "just the facts, ma'am." ;)