Uber drivers are employees – judge

The company, who considers drivers to be self-employed, plans to appeal.

Ride-hailing app Uber yesterday lost an appeal against a ruling that its drivers in Britain must be treated as employees of the company and granted standard employment rights, including paid time off and a minimum wage.

Employment appeals tribunal judge Jennifer Eady upheld an earlier decision that an Uber driver on duty is “a worker engaged on working time when in the [designated] territory, with the app switched on, and ready and willing to accept trips”.

Eady said the first tribunal had been correct to conclude that any Uber driver meeting these conditions was working for Uber “under a ‘worker’ contract”, according to British employment law.

Several current and former Uber drivers, backed by the GMB and other trade unions, had brought the case.

Uber, which currently treats its drivers as self-employed, said it plans to appeal to Britain’s Supreme Court following yesterday’s ruling.

“This landmark decision is 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 legal director Maria Ludkin said in a statement.

“We hope that Uber will accept this decision, rather than pursue appeals,” said Nigel Mackay, a lawyer for the union. – dpa