PROTEST PLIGHT
700 UBER DRIVERS BLOCK BIRMINGHAM CENTRE ROADS PROTESTING UNFAIR WORKING PRACTICES
An estimated 700 Uber drivers staged another protest in Birming- ham demanding fair treatment and transparency and objecting to ‘unfair working conditions’. The demonstration started with speeches by barrister Ayoub Khan and Independant Ladywood can- didate Akhmed Yakoob, outside the Uber Greenlight Hub at 4pm on Thursday 30 May. A huge convoy of drivers then staged a go-slow which snaked through the city centre tunnels, arriving at Birmingham’s New Street Station. The drivers sounded their horns and shouted support
Minhaj Uddin, spokes- man for the Uber Drivers’ Union UK, said: “The protest was a success, and exceeded all expectations. We distrib- uted around 10,000 leaflets and drivers from Manchester and Liver- pool took part. “We remain steadfast and
during the lively demonstration before heading home. The drivers are demanding: an end to dynamic pricing; an end to fixed pricing; an end to unfair termin- ations; a freeze on new recruitments.
WORKERS AT COVENTRY LEVC PLANT STRIKE OVER PAY
Workers at LEVC had big picket lines on 13 June with Unite union members demanding a pay rise and beginning an overtime ban. Paul, who builds electric cars, told Socialist Worker: “We’ve never had a decent pay rise in the eight years we’ve been at the factory in Ansty Park. Pay has gone down and down past where it should be. The union ran some numbers and found that it was almost 20% below the industry average. Our pay is only about £2 or £3 more than the hourly minimum wage. “We are asking for a 5% pay rise and a £1,000 lump sum. At first the bosses offered us a 3.5% rise and a £350 taxable lump sum. Workers rejected the offer. “Then they offered us an extra £50 lump sum. The workers thought this was insulting. Finally, we got
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offered a 4% rise with a £500 lump sum, but bosses said this wouldn’t be back-paid to January, only April. “They said this was their final offer. Workers rejected it again and voted to strike.” Paul explained that years of stagnating pay have pushed workers to get organised and Union membership at the factory has risen from 30 to around 100. Paul added: “We feel like the bosses have taken us for granted. They blame us for bad sales. But even though they can’t sell the cars, the top bosses are still getting bonuses. They want us to accept less because business is bad.” After just one day of strikes, LEVC bosses said they would sit down for negotiations. But Paul said work- ers are ready to keep striking if they don’t get the offer they want.
will continue to protest until our demands are met. We refuse to accept Uber’s mistreatment any longer.”
The union said they’d given Uber a fortnight to negotiate but claimed they had not responded, ‘forcing drivers to escalate their efforts.’ One of the participants, Nadeem Hussain, from Hall Green, said: “Uber has promised us that we are partners but as time went on they started reducing their fares. Due to the cost of living, fares should be going up but they are reducing everyday. “Basically we are getting £4.19 or £4.16 a fare and that includes holiday pay. We are the backbone of this company - if every driver doesn’t accept any jobs, Uber would be lost.” An Uber Spokesperson said: “All drivers are guaranteed holiday pay, access to a pension plan, free sick- ness protection and guaranteed National Living Wage – though the vast majority earn more. “We regularly engage with drivers, including via our industry-leading agreement with GMB Union which ensures all drivers have access to full union representation.” Another protest is planned for 1 July at a venue yet to be confirmed.
JULY 2024 PHTM
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