Wide screen devices may view this page better by clicking here
Transport :: Fares
All Campaigns subcategories:
Fares
Search site for keywords: Birmingham - Uber - Strike - Fares - Drivers
Around a thousand taxi drivers for multinational private hire firm Uber struck for 24 hours on 6 June. Strikers also protested outside Uber's Birmingham office at midday.
The action, backed by drivers' association United Private Hire Drivers, highlighted issues such as reducing passenger fares without consulting staff.
If they refuse to pick up a fare - for instance, if the distance is too far - bosses can also take drivers, technically 'self-employed', off the books. This means drivers are forced to take on jobs even if they will not earn a real wage from it.
A spokesperson for the drivers said:
"The fare deductions have forced us to do more fares for less money. Uber continues to insist drivers are earning more, but only states gross takings without even basic deductions for insurance, fuel and other running costs."
Uber has also recently come under scrutiny for tax avoidance (see Uber and Facebook tax dodge scandal). Mistreatment of staff and the race to the bottom in wages is just another example of how big business exploits workers to pump profits into the 1%.
The Socialist Party fully supports strike action by Uber drivers. Scrap phoney 'self-employed' casual contracts - for job security and flexibility on our terms, not the bosses'. For collective bargaining rights and a guaranteed living wage for all drivers.
This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 14 June 2016 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.
Transport keywords:
13 Apr Bristol North Socialist Party: The role of the state and the police
14 Apr Hackney & Islington Socialist Party: Lessons of the 1921 Poplar councillors' struggle
15 Apr Waltham Forest Socialist Party: Lessons of the Paris Commune for today
The Socialist, weekly newspaper of the Socialist Party
News
Schools
Protests
Local elections
Workplace news
NEU elections: Elect a socialist leadership to fight for national action and a united campaign
GMB general secretary election: A fighting, socialist leadership needed
Sparks take deskilling protests to Hinkley Point
Marley Tiles workers strike against bullying bosses
New British Gas deadline and strike dates
Childcare
Liverpool
Brixton riots
International news
Readers' opinion
|
ebook / Kindle
|
PDF version
|
Text / Print
|
1128 online
|
Back issues
|
Audio files
Platform setting: =