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Uber Loses Appeal Against Ruling On Drivers’ Employment Rights
Uber has lost an appeal against a ruling on the employment rights of drivers, the GMB union said.
The ruling has implications for around 40,000 drivers who use the app.
Uber said it would appeal against the decision.
It comes less than two months after the ride-hailing app lost its London licence in a shock ruling by Transport for London (TfL).
Friday’s employment tribunal upheld a ruling in October 2016 that Uber drivers should be classified as workers.
Drivers are not self-employed, but workers entitled to basic workers’ rights including holiday pay, a guaranteed minimum wage and an entitlement to breaks.
The 25 drivers’ claims brought by the GMB trade union, who were represented by law firm Leigh Day, were heard in the London Central Employment Tribunal in July 2016.
Since the 2016 ruling, the number of GMB member claimants in the group claim has increased to 68.
Maria Ludkin, GMB legal director, said: “This landmark decision is a yet more vindication of GMB’s campaign to ensure drivers are given the rights they are entitled to – and that the public, drivers and passengers are kept safe.
“GMB is delighted the EAT made the correct decision to uphold the original employment tribunal ruling.
“Uber must now face up to its responsibilities and give its workers the rights to which they are entitled.
“GMB urges the company not to waste everyone’s time and money dragging their lost cause to the Supreme Court.”
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The lawyers acting for the Claimant were Paul Jennings, partner in the Employment team at Bates Wells Braithwaite, Rachel Mathieson, Solicitor and Hannah Wright, Solicitor.
Paul Jennings, a partner at Bates Wells Braithwaite, which acted for the claimant, said: “We are delighted with today’s judgment which is ethically and legally the right outcome. The ruling will have significant implications for approximately 40,000 Uber drivers and, more broadly, individuals engaged across the so called ‘gig economy’.
He said that he it was anticipated that tens of thousands drivers would now seek to make substantial back-dated claims.
Rachel Mathieson, solicitor at Bates Wells Braithwaite, said: “This is a landmark decision in the context of an evolving labour market and one which we hope will be a critical step forwards in addressing exploitation in the gig economy.”
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/uber-loses-appeal_uk_5a058157e4b01d21c83dff51
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