Uber loses court appeal against drivers' rights

Taxi firm Uber has lost an appeal against a ruling on the employment rights of drivers.
Uber have lost their appealUber have lost their appeal
Uber have lost their appeal

The GMB union said a ruling by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) was a “landmark victory” for workers’ rights, especially in the gig economy.

Two drivers, James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam, won an employment tribunal case last year after arguing that they were “workers” and entitled to the minimum wage, sick pay and paid leave.

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Uber challenged the ruling at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in central London, saying it could deprive drivers of the “personal flexibility they value”.

Maria Ludkin, the GMB’s legal director, said: “This landmark decision is a yet more vindication of GMB’s campaign to ensure drivers are given the rights they are entitled to and that the public, drivers and passengers are kept safe.

“GMB is delighted the EAT made the correct decision to uphold the original employment tribunal ruling.

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“Uber must now face up to its responsibilities and give its workers the rights to which they are entitled.

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“GMB urges the company not to waste everyone’s time and money dragging their lost cause to the Supreme Court.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Uber should throw in the towel and accept today’s judgment. No company, however big or well-connected, is above the law.

“Uber must play by the rules and stop denying its drivers basic rights at work.

“This ruling should put gig economy employers on notice. Unions will expose nasty schemes that try and cheat workers out of the minimum wage and holiday pay.

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“Sham self-employment exploits people and scams the taxman.”

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which represented the two drivers, said the decision showed that firms were choosing to deprive workers of their rights.

Mr Aslam said; “I have been campaigning against Uber since 2014 and, although I always knew I was on the right side, it has always been a struggle that has brought enormous pressure on us.

“I am glad that the judge today confirmed what I and thousands of drivers have known all along: that Uber is not only exploiting drivers, but also acting unlawfully. We will carry on fighting until this exploitation stops and workers’ rights are respected.”

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Mr Farrar said: “Uber cannot go on flouting UK law with impunity and depriving people of their minimum wage rights. We have done everything we can, now it is time for the Mayor of London, Transport for London and the Transport Secretary to step up and use their leverage to defend worker rights rather than turn a blind eye to sweatshop conditions.”

IWGB general secretary Jason Moyer-Lee: “Today’s victory is further proof, as if any more was needed, that the law is clear and these companies are simply choosing to deprive workers of their rights. These companies are making a mockery of supposed employment rights. The Government needs to properly enforce the law and they need to do it now.”

Uber announced that it will appeal against the ruling.

Tom Elvidge, Uber UK’s acting general manager, said: “Almost all taxi and private hire drivers have been self-employed for decades, long before our app existed.

“The main reason why drivers use Uber is because they value the freedom to choose if, when and where they drive, and so we intend to appeal.

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“The tribunal relies on the assertion that drivers are required to take 80% of trips sent to them when logged into the app. As drivers who use Uber know, this has never been the case in the UK.

“Over the last year we have made a number of changes to our app to give drivers even more control. We’ve also invested in things like access to illness and injury cover and we’ll keep introducing changes to make driving with Uber even better.”

Nigel Mackay of law firm Leigh Day, which was involved in last year’s employment tribunal, said: “We now hope that Uber will accept this decision, rather than pursuing further appeals, so that we can swiftly return to the employment tribunal on behalf of our GMB member clients, for the tribunal to decide the compensation that they are entitled to.”

Chris Bryce, chief executive of the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE) said: “It is astonishing that the employment tribunal granted the two drivers worker status. A key element of being a worker is having to turn up for work even if you don’t want to. This is clearly not the case with people who drive through Uber - they choose when and how long they work for by logging on or off the app.

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“The growing number of employment tribunals linked to the gig economy shows there is a fundamental lack of clarity over what it means to work on your own behalf.

“The Government needs to seriously consider introducing a statutory definition of self-employment. That would bring greater certainty and reduce the need for further tribunals.”