Uber drivers will strike from 1 pm across UK cities today.
Protesting over pay and working conditions, hundreds of drivers will turn off their apps this afternoon.
Organised by The United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) branch of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), there will also be protests outside the offices in London, Nottingham and Birmingham.
James Farrar, who is the head of the UPHD branch, said “hundreds” are expected to join the strikes on Tuesday.
“If you look at social media feeds its viral at the moment. In the history of our union, I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” he said.
The unions are demanding an end to what it describes as the unfair deactivation of drivers. There is also a push for the increase in fares from £1.25 per mile to £2 per mile and a 10% reduction in commissions paid by drivers.
Labour deputy leader John McDonnell has supported the strike. He retweeted the UPHD’s announcement of the strike and protests and wrote: “I support this strike for better employment rights and urge others to respect the app picket line.”
Uber 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.”
“That’s why over the last few months we’ve introduced dozens of new features, including sickness, injury, maternity and paternity protections. An academic study last month found that drivers in London make an average of £11 an hour, after accounting for all of their costs and Uber’s service fee.”
“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.”
This is the latest action taken by employees in the gig economy. Last week, employees from McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD), Wetherspoons (LON: JDW) and TGI Fridays (CNSX: TGIF) took part in a joint national strike.
