Number of Uber UK rides back to pre-pandemic levels June 7, 2021 Uber this morning said that the number of rides booked by UK users has now returned to pre-pandemic levels. The ride-hailing app said that the loosening of restrictions on hospitality venues had been the main driving force behind the return of demand. Most of the trips currently being taken are in the evening, Uber added, [...]
Uber strikes deal with GMB union over driver representation May 26, 2021 Union GMB will now represent Uber drivers after striking a deal with the ride-hailing firm, it was announced this evening. The firm’s 70,000 drivers will now be able to choose to be represented by the union if they wish, in a first for the sector. The deal comes months after Uber said it would treat [...]
Screenshot: Is Trump’s Facebook ban too hot to handle? May 7, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Brits love bent coppers **Is Trump’s Facebook ban too hot to handle? **ITV’s Summer of Love (Island) Media Moment of the Week: Brits love bent coppers Ok, so you might not have been the biggest fan of the Line of Duty season finale on Sunday. In fact, you [...]
Uber books $600m hit from UK drivers’ rights ruling May 6, 2021 Uber has booked a $600m (£431m) hit following a landmark court ruling that forced the ride-hailing giant to pay its drivers minimum wage and holiday pay. The San Francisco-based app last night said it had incurred the costs to settle historical claims relating to the classification of drivers as workers during the first quarter. In [...]
Uber inks deal with Arrival to build electric car for its drivers May 4, 2021 Uber has this morning announced a partnership with UK start-up Arrival to build electric taxis designed for its ride-hailing drivers. The car, which will enter production in the first quarter of 2023, will be designed in partnership with the ride-hailing giant’s drivers. The partnership is part of Uber’s push to eliminate emissions from all 45,000 [...]
Saturday Sitdown: Uber UK boss Jamie Heywood on the recovery, workers’ rights and electric vehicles May 1, 2021 Jamie Heywood, Uber’s top man in the UK, Northern and Eastern Europe, has a spring in his step – at least, as much as you can see that on Zoom. Since the reopening of London’s bars and restaurants, with tables next to heaters prized like rare artefacts, Uber has seen rides spike upwards as Londoners [...]
Green light: Competition watchdog clears Uber’s Autocab takeover March 29, 2021 The competition watchdog has given the green light to Uber’s takeover of taxi tech firm Autocab, giving the ride-hailing giant a much-needed boost for its UK operations. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a phase one investigation into the merger in January to examine how the deal could harm the private hire vehicle market. [...]
Uber: What does the workers’ rights U-turn mean for the ride-hailing giant? March 17, 2021 Uber agreed yesterday to give its 70,000 UK drivers holiday pay and pensions following a landmark ruling in the Supreme Court. The court ruled that all UK drivers are employees of the taxi giant — rather than being self-employed — and are therefore eligible to receive holiday pay on a fortnightly basis. Susannah Streeter, senior [...]
Screenshot: Is Uber nearing the end of the road? February 26, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Boris’ career coaching **Is Uber nearing the end of the road? **Apple’s merger madness Media Moment of the Week: Boris’ career coaching Social media is a fickle beast, but if there’s one sure-fire way to generate outrage it’s to insult journalists. That’s what Boris Johnson did this week, [...]
Supreme Court set for long-awaited Uber employment rights judgement February 17, 2021 On Friday the Supreme Court will hand down its judgement as to whether Uber has been successful in its appeal against a ruling recognising its drivers as workers, not independent contractors. The long-running dispute, which has been bouncing through the courts since back in 2016, could have sizeable implications for the future of the gig [...]