Uber drivers take to streets in mass vehicle strike

Uber drivers logged off the app for a 24 hour strike on Wednesday, December 14, in protest of pay and working conditions.

Members of App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU), the country’s largest union for licensed private hire drivers and couriers, held a strike outside Uber’s HQ on York Street in St Paul’s, chanting ‘Shame on Uber’, before holding a mass drive through the streets of Bristol.

Drivers travelled from the Bearpit in the city centre to the Downs in a fleet of nearly 100 cars, as part of a national protests held across a number of cities in the UK.

The strike is one of the first national strikes to involve a digital picket line, and organisers have urged the public not to use the app for the entire 24 hours.

Drivers are striking against the company’s introduction of ‘smart pricing’ which they argue does not align with the rate of inflation, and gives them a real-term wage cut.

ADCU is arguing that Uber has failed to comply with the Supreme Court and lower court rulings to pay drivers at least the minimum wage after costs for all working time from log on to log off.

Instead, Uber has chosen to only pay drivers from dispatch to drop off, excluding waiting time, which leaves drivers short-changed for about 40 per cent of their true working time.

Drivers also argue the minimum wage pay does not reflect a 36 per cent fuel inflation since last year. They are demanding that fares are increased to £2.50 per mile and 20p per minute and that Uber commission be capped at 15 per cent.

“We are working 12-15 hours every day to make ends meet. Our petrol prices have risen but we are still on the minimum wage,” said one speaker at the strike.

Drivers are also facing ongoing disputes around financial settlements during the pandemic, such as holiday pay and legal fees, as well as what they see as unfair dismissal.

“We are being told that if we cancel journeys our licenses will be revoked,” said Aqib Ashraf, an Uber driver who has worked at the company for over a year.

“For instance, if there is a passenger in your car and they say something about you that is not true, that can get drivers logged off. It will take drivers a couple of weeks to actually prove themselves,” he continued.

Uber drivers said they also now have to do an MOT twice, rather than once a year. Cars in the UK are only legally required to carry out an MOT once a year.

“We think they are doing it for money,” said Aqib.

Drivers protested outside Uber’s Bristol office in St Paul’s – photo: Mia Vines Booth

ADCU is also concerned about Uber’s influence over government legislation, and is urging politicians to commit to zero influence contact with Uber until the company demonstrates full compliance with employment, transport and taxation laws.

“Unfortunately we have not yet had a response from Uber. Our next target is the council, but unfortunately most of the drivers feel really insecure.

“We feel that the council is with them, not with us. We need the council involved,” said Aqib.

Main photo: Mia Vines Booth

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