BY HAJERA BLAGG
“
Most people don’t realise just how little Uber drivers get paid. They just think ‘Oh this is a cheap ride at the push of the button’
Mike Hedges
Unite rep and London black cab driver
Jay explains that by burdening the cyclists with the cost of a bike and phone, they’re always one theft or accident away from effectively losing their jobs.
”
“No one’s got money in the bank, you’re just living off what you’re earning,” he said. “You can’t afford to buy another bike or phone.”
Fella highlights evidence showing that the gig economy, unless it’s regulated, may become a permanent, corrosive feature of the economy.
Regulation is particularly challenging, given that
there’s no established
employment relationship between these tech companies and gig workers – although a new landmark ruling might change all this.
An employment tribunal in October ruled that drivers working for Uber, a ride-sharing app offering taxi services, should be classified as workers, not as self-employed.
Un-APP-etising – workers’ rights don’t come with your delivery
While the implications for the gig economy are not yet known – Uber plans to appeal the decision – some believe this case could spell the beginning of the end for bogus self-employment.
Still, the insecurity the gig economy has bred is not going away anytime soon, and Fella notes that it’s also posing a serious threat to workers in traditional employment relationships.
The increasing dominance of Uber now means many traditional black cab drivers are struggling to maintain their livelihood. “It’s difficult to quantify but it’s definitely had a massive impact,” Unite rep and London black cab driver Mike Hedges says.
Mike believes fighting this attack on their trade will require lobbying the government and regulators to push standards up across private hire. Enlisting the support of the public is also important. “Most people don’t realise just how little Uber drivers get paid,” he said. “They just think ‘Oh this is
19 uniteWORKS Autumn 2016
a cheap ride at the push of the button’.” After the watershed ruling which deemed Uber drivers actual workers, Unite announced it would be setting up a special legal unit to fight bosses who wrongly label their workers self-employed.
Unite director of legal Howard Beckett said the recent tribunal decision “will send shock waves through the ‘gig’ economy and opens up the way for legal action against bogus self-employment across all sectors.”
While gig workers join forces with unions to battle it out in the courts, Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner urged the government to take action to bring security to the millions of Britons losing out in the gig economy.
“We cannot turn the clock back to the Victorian era,” he said. “The government needs to put a floor underneath all workers’ rights.”
*Name changed to protect privacy Find out more HERE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36