This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46617584
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Uber loses latest legal bid over driver rights | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Uber has lost an appeal against a ruling that its drivers should be treated as workers rather than self-employed. | Uber has lost an appeal against a ruling that its drivers should be treated as workers rather than self-employed. |
| In 2016 a tribunal ruled drivers James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam were Uber staff and entitled to holiday pay, paid rest breaks and the minimum wage. | In 2016 a tribunal ruled drivers James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam were Uber staff and entitled to holiday pay, paid rest breaks and the minimum wage. |
| That ruling has now been upheld by the Court of Appeal. | That ruling has now been upheld by the Court of Appeal. |
| But Uber pointed out that one of the three judges backed its case and said it would appeal to the Supreme Court. | But Uber pointed out that one of the three judges backed its case and said it would appeal to the Supreme Court. |
| Mr Farrar, who is chairman of the United Private Hire Drivers branch of the IWGB union, said: "I am delighted today's ruling brings us closer to the ending Uber's abuse of precarious workers made possible by tactics of contract trickery, psychological manipulation and old-fashioned bullying." | Mr Farrar, who is chairman of the United Private Hire Drivers branch of the IWGB union, said: "I am delighted today's ruling brings us closer to the ending Uber's abuse of precarious workers made possible by tactics of contract trickery, psychological manipulation and old-fashioned bullying." |
| He added that he was dismayed that implementation of worker status for drivers was being further delayed while Uber seeks yet another appeal. | He added that he was dismayed that implementation of worker status for drivers was being further delayed while Uber seeks yet another appeal. |
| 'A cynical ploy' | |
| "This is nothing more than a cynical ploy to delay inevitable changes to its business model while it pursues a record breaking $120bn stock market flotation," Mr Farrar said. | "This is nothing more than a cynical ploy to delay inevitable changes to its business model while it pursues a record breaking $120bn stock market flotation," Mr Farrar said. |
| "It's time for Uber to come clean with all its stakeholders and abide by the decision of the courts." | "It's time for Uber to come clean with all its stakeholders and abide by the decision of the courts." |
| The GMB union said that Uber should "just accept the verdict", after losing three times in a row. | The GMB union said that Uber should "just accept the verdict", after losing three times in a row. |
| Prior to this, the Employment Tribunal ruled in November 2017 that it was upholding its original decision. | Prior to this, the Employment Tribunal ruled in November 2017 that it was upholding its original decision. |
| "This is the perfect early Christmas present for GMB's Uber members, but this case is about the wider 'gig economy' too," said the GMB's general secretary Tim Roache. | "This is the perfect early Christmas present for GMB's Uber members, but this case is about the wider 'gig economy' too," said the GMB's general secretary Tim Roache. |
| "Employers are on notice that they can't just run rough shod over working people to put more on the bottom line for shareholders." | "Employers are on notice that they can't just run rough shod over working people to put more on the bottom line for shareholders." |
| Not unanimous | |
| Uber has been granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court. | Uber has been granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court. |
| The firm said it was encouraged that one of the appeal judges said that Uber's argument was "neither unrealistic nor artificial", but in accordance with a well-recognised business model in the private hire car industry. | |
| "Almost all taxi and private hire drivers have been self-employed for decades, long before our app existed," an Uber spokesperson said. | |
| "Drivers who use the Uber app make more than the London Living Wage and want to keep the freedom to choose if, when and where they drive. | |
| "If drivers were classified as workers they would inevitably lose some of the freedom and flexibility that comes with being their own boss." | |
| However, law firm Gowling WLG expects the Supreme Court to uphold the decision. | However, law firm Gowling WLG expects the Supreme Court to uphold the decision. |
| "Yet another court confirms that the more a brand seeks to control the activities of the people that deliver that brand's services to the public, the less likely those people are to be self-employed," said Jonathan Chamberlain, partner at Gowling. | "Yet another court confirms that the more a brand seeks to control the activities of the people that deliver that brand's services to the public, the less likely those people are to be self-employed," said Jonathan Chamberlain, partner at Gowling. |
| "The law will probably always remain uncertain in this area, despite the governments promise of reform, but the direction of travel is clear. I expect the Supreme Court to uphold this judgement, but we shall see." | "The law will probably always remain uncertain in this area, despite the governments promise of reform, but the direction of travel is clear. I expect the Supreme Court to uphold this judgement, but we shall see." |