Decision by Uber ‘opens door for other gig workers’

A DECISION by Uber to give its drivers a guaranteed minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions “opens the door” for other workers in the gig economy to get better pay and conditions, unions have said.

The ride-hailing giant announced that, from yesterday, more than 70,000 drivers will now to be treated as workers under UK employment law.

The move, following lengthy legal action, was welcomed by unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers in the growing gig economy.

Mick Rix, national officer of the GMB union, said: “Uber’s announcement should mark the end of the road for bogus self-employment.

“GMB’s battle with Uber now opens the door for workers, and their unions, to win the fight for better pay and conditions at companies across the gig economy.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said that Uber’s announcement was the result of years of union campaigning, adding: “Now we need to take it to the next level.

“We will be pushing hard for Uber and other platform companies to recognise unions and give staff a proper voice at work. Gig workers deserve the same basic rights as everybody else.”

Uber sent out an email yesterday to its customers which said: “From today Uber drivers in the UK will be paid holiday time, automatically enrolled into a pension plan, and guaranteed to earn at least the National Living Wage.

“Drivers are an essential part of our everyday lives and we are proud to be making these changes to how they earn with Uber.”

Former Uber driver James Farrar said minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions were a step in the right direction but drivers were still being short-changed.

Mr Farrar, who along with Yaseen Aslam originally brought claims against the firm, said that drivers should accrue minimum wage and holiday pay from when they log in not just from when a trip is accepted.