PROTEST PLIGHT
BIRMINGHAM UBER DRIVERS FORM CITY CENTRE CONVOY IN ROW OVER PAY
On 29 April, scores of Uber drivers protested over pay in Birmingham. Up to 100 gathered outside the firm’s office before a convoy formed near Birmingham New Street Station. The demonstrators claim their pay has fallen and feel unfairly treated by the app-based operator. The firm said all drivers are guaranteed a National Living Wage, holiday pay and sickness protection. The demo was held at Uber Birmingham Greenlight Hub in Aston for three hours until lunchtime. A convoy of cars then formed outside Birmingham New Street. Drivers blared their horns
months during our own work and other commitments. “We have to put everything aside to organise this. We don't want to be the enemy of Uber - we want to be friends. They call us partner, but they are not treating us like a partner.”
and a blue smoke flare was set off. “We are doing the work, driving our cars, paying the tax, paying the outrageous insurance premiums and we’re only getting 40 per cent,” said Minhaj Uddin, from the Uber Drivers’ Union UK. He added: “We’re here because we’re suffering. We organised this (the demo) for three-and-a-half
Uber said Living Wage and holiday pay was based on just over 12 per cent of earnings. An Uber spokesperson said: “We regularly engage with drivers, including through our industry- leading agreement with GMB union which ensures all drivers have
access to representation.”
DRIVERS PROTEST OUTSIDE VEEZU’S SHEFFIELD OFFICE OVER COMMISSION RATE INCREASE
Around 500 drivers who work for Veezu in Sheffield and Rotherham gathered outside Veezu’s Sheffield offices on 23 April, in protest at new commission rates which came after Veezu acquired local taxi company City Taxis in 2023. A previously flat 20% commission rate has been replaced with differ- ing rates dependent on the total number of jobs drivers complete. One driver told The Star: “Since Veezu took over things have started to change. Now, Veezu’s structure has [their take calculated] on the number of jobs, they take their cut on a sliding scale, so if you do 12-13 jobs in a week, it starts at 35 per cent. That’s a staggering amount. “If we do Manchester Airport for £85, Veezu used to take £17. At 35%,
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that goes to £29.75. If you take all the costs away - the driver is left with about £30 for four hours work. That’s hardly the minimum wage.” During the cost of living crisis, Veezu has brought its fares down - drivers say to undercut Uber -but Veezu is now said to be taking higher percentage cuts than ever. Another driver said: “Our fares have come down, fuel, insurance has gone up, what we’re paying to them is too high. I’ve been doing
this job 20 years, I was better off 20 years ago than I am now.” GMB Union organiser Bob McNeil said: “Veezu are bringing more people into the business but the work has not increased, so it’s having a massive impact on drivers’ wages and they are saying they are struggling to live.” The Star was told drivers need to complete at least 80 journeys in a week to see a difference. In order to reach the lowest rate on the scale (roughly 12% to Veezu) they must complete more than 100. A spokesperson for Veezu said: “As self-employed drivers running their own businesses, several of the drivers have proposed commercial terms which Veezu is considering and will be discussing with them in the coming weeks.”
JUNE 2024 PHTM full union
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