Uber drivers can now unionise after ride biz recognises GMB, one of the UK s largest trade unions theregister.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theregister.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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After years of fighting them in court, Uber has given drivers unprecedented collective bargaining power for the first time by striking a deal with one of the largest unions in the UK.
WIRED UK
This story originally appeared on WIRED UK.
In an agreement coined with the GMB union following weeks of negotiations, the ride-hailing company says it will recognize trade union representation for its 70,000 UK drivers and has committed to giving workers a seat at the table, pledging to meet union leaders quarterly to discuss driver issues and concerns.
The Workers Who Sued Uber and Won
The UK Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Uber drivers, declaring them workers and not independent contractors. But to beat the platform capitalists, it is urgent that we start to treat digital rights as worker rights. Yaseen Aslam and James Farrar outside the Employment Appeals Tribunal on September 27, 2017, in London (Carl Court/Getty Images)
In February, the UK Supreme Court ruled unanimously in
Uber BV v. Aslam that Uber drivers should be classified not as independent contractors but as workers entitled to basic employment protections like the minimum wage and paid annual leave. The landmark ruling is an inflection point for gig workerâled movements around the world. In April, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said that gig workers should be considered employees, another sign that the tide is turning.
Uber announced it plans to hire a further 2
0,000 drivers by the end of next year
The firm has reported a more than 50 per cent increase in trips across the UK
Recruitment drive will boost the group s driver network to 90,000 in country
App Drivers & Couriers Union said move will lead to rising urban congestion