While the ride-hailing and delivery company signed an historic agreement with the GMB union in May 2021 authorizing it to represent its UK drivers for the first time (c.f. article No.12543), the American ride-hailing and delivery app platform has just surprised everyone in the gig economy by publishing a joint press release (26 August) with the GMB in which they call to “end exploitation of more than 200,000 drivers” using app platforms in the UK. They both urge other ride-hailing app users to similarly join forces.
This astonishing call follows the first official meeting between the GMB general secretary, Gary Smith, and Uber’s managing director for Northern and Eastern Europe, Jamie Heywood. In their statement they hold that UK Uber drivers currently enjoy certain rights, specifically that of union representation, which other app platforms like Bolt and Addison Lee do not. Following the meeting, GMB’s Gary Smith noted that “Uber has done this for its 70,000 drivers, but there are more than 200,000 more w
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