More significantly, what about the thousands of Uber drivers who actually work and live in London? Naturally enough, the occasional “bad apple” hits the headlines; this is human nature in any walk of life, and makes for sensational reading. But there are genuine hard-work- ing drivers out there who, for whatever reason, have chosen to become Uber “partner-drivers” – and they don’t know where the hell they stand at the present time.
Not forgetting that Uber’s original operator licence was refused renewal in 2017, the company was only granted the 15-month renewal on appeal… and now this two-month extension. For the drivers to be left dangling in uncertainty, not knowing whether they’ll have work over Christmas/ and New Year, never mind earn a living for next year, is dreadful.
James Farrar, Chair of United Private Hire Drivers branch of the IWGB, said: “Once again, TfL’s failure to regulate effectively and Uber’s unwillingness to play by the rules has led to the jobs of 40,000 Uber drivers being thrown into uncertainty. Sadiq Khan must use this two- month licence review period to insist Uber respect UK employment law as a condition of licence.”
As for the regulator in all this, Transport for London has made a mock- ery of the entire licensing process. It is said that whatever happens in London, industry-wise, the rest of the country will follow. Oh really?
Angela Clarkson, director of United Trade Action Group (UTAG) said: “It’s a disgraceful decision. Another case of ULL regulating TfL. ULL have now had six years and eight months to prove they are fit and proper; obviously they still have not satisfied TfL that they are. It’s another weak decision from a regulator that themselves are not fit and proper.”
Looking at the dilemma from a licensing authority’s standpoint, do you really believe that any other transport provider in the UK would be granted a two-month extension to their operator licence under similar circumstances? No chance.
Concerns over Uber’s operation in London have included its approach to reporting criminal offences, criminal record checks, how drivers’ medical certificates are obtained, and its alleged use of tech to evade law enforcement officials.
OK, so the following statement would apply to any size of operation in any UK city or town, but let’s just take a few of the larger, well established and familiar firms, such as Addison Lee, or Delta in Sefton, or Aqua Cars in Portsmouth, or the Veezu Group. You can bet your bottom dollar that if any of these companies had transgressed, and broken as many rules, to the extent that Uber London Limited has done, they’d have their operator licence revoked faster than their heads could swim.
This is where the phrase “level playing field” has resounded all over the country: the fact that Uber is treated with kid gloves in increasing numbers of licensing authorities, by just tweaking their modus operandi enough to convince some licensing officers that they’re playing by the rules… such as bringing in the geofencing concept.
Don’t get me started on that one! Town halls around the country are being occupied with more and more committee meetings discussing the behaviour of Uber Britannia Ltd, who in some areas actively encour- age their drivers – in some cases with financial incentives - to work in neighbouring districts where Uber does not hold an operator licence.
In those circumstances Uber doesn’t have to bother with a two-month extension, do they…? But in the meantime, the legitimately licensed members of the trade in York, Basildon, Brentwood, Thurrock, Southend and many others are having to grapple with the out-of-area invaders – of which Uber heads the list.
It is the company’s credo, along the lines of “Let’s do what it takes and break a few rules, then apologise afterwards”, that offends authority all over the world. And now they’ve been given another chance to get squared up in London – in two months. Astounding.
Until next time, sayonara.
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Plan. Always Ahead. The Plan Group Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) no. 307249 OCTOBER 2019 13
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