Uber drivers across the UK are set to strike for 24 hours from tomorrow as the company continues to appeal against a court ruling giving them employee rights.
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has called for a 24-hour strike of Uber drivers in London, Birmingham and Nottingham from 1pm on Tuesday 9 October.
Uber lost a court battle in 2016 when an employment tribunal found against its classification of drivers as independent contractors, although the company continues to appeal against that ruling.
James Farrar, IWGB's united private hire drivers branch chair, told Sky News that despite the court ruling that Uber was required to class its drivers as "limb b workers" – entitling them to the minimum wage and holiday pay – Uber's continued court appeals have meant that ruling has not yet been implemented.
The strike on Tuesday will be the first time that a trade union has taken strike action against Uber.
IWGB is calling for public support for the striking drivers by asking customers not to "cross the digital picket line" by using the app during the strike.
Drivers will be staging protests outside of the company's officers in London, Birmingham and Nottingham on Tuesday.
The union is currently engaged in legal efforts to secure private hire drivers rights through the courts, and has cases against Uber, Green Tomato Cars and A2B Cars.
Earlier this year, Uber's UK boss admitted the decision not to renew its London licence last year was correct, as the company attempted to address negative press.
Mr Farrar added: "After years of watching take home pay plummet and with management bullying of workers on the rise, workers have been left with no choice but to take strike action.
"We ask the public to please support drivers by not crossing the digital picket line by not using the app during strike time."
The drivers are demanding an increase in fairs to £2 per mile, up from £1.25 in London, as well as a 10% reduction in commissions paid by drivers to Uber.
They also ask for an end to "unfair app deactivations", which they argue amount to de facto dismissals.
Finally, the drivers request that Uber apply the employment tribunals' judgments and "immediately implement employment conditions that respect worker rights for drivers, including the payment of at least the minimum wage and paid holidays".
Mr Farrar and his colleague Yaseen Aslam will be facing Uber at the Court of Appeal at the end of October in a landmark employment rights case regarding so-called "gig economy" workers as Uber seeks to continue to appeal against the limb b worker classification.
An Uber spokesman said:"We are always looking to make improvements to ensure drivers have the best possible experience and can make the most of their time driving on the app.
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"That's why over the last few months we've introduced dozens of new features, including sickness, injury, maternity and paternity protections.
"We continue to look at ways to help drivers increase their earnings and our door is always open if anyone wants to speak to us about any issues they're having."
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Sky News
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