Taxi Driver Online

Uber drivers to stage demonstration in Manchester to oppose cab firm's 'unfair policies'


Drivers claim the company has reduced the rates it pays drivers

Furious drivers are staging a protest outside the Manchester offices of global firm Uber against what they say are unfair fare cuts which have left them hard in pocket.

Dozens of are expected to attend the event in Redhill Street, Ancoats, between 4pm and 6pm, with some travelling from London and Leeds to lend their support.

The dispute is due to a recent 14 per cent reduction in fares, which a group called the Greater Manchester Drivers Forum claims means that their members are now getting less money for the same amount of work.

They also say the commission they have to pay to the firm has been increased.

Zeeshan Ali, spokesman for GMDF, who are organising the protest, said: “Uber recently reduced their prices and it is coming down on the drivers hard.

“It means that we will earn less and therefore have to work longer hours.

“We have not been asked for our opinion or been talked to about it.

“We simply got an email saying that the changes were coming into force.

“We have contacted the company, asking them to review the pricing cuts, but they have refused to talk to us.

“We don’t want to affect customers, but we feel we don’t have a choice - Uber has forced us into taking this action.

“We are all united and not very happy about it. Hopefully this will force them to review the changes.”

The US-based firm - which now covers Bury, Bolton and Oldham as well as central Manchester - has transformed the taxi business since being launched in 2008.

Customers use a mobile phone app to book and pay for their their ride. They can also track where the vehicle is before picking them up.

Mr Ali added: “Uber is already cheaper than other local private hire companies and drivers are spending more than half of their pay on expenses such as licensing, MOT, road tax, fuel and servicing.

“This rate cut will increase pressure on them to work extra hours for same pay, which will result in longer hours, tired driver and less time with family.

“If Uber still wants to reduce rates, then we suggest they should do this from their 20-25 per cent commission, which they could reduce to 10 per cent.

“Uber can afford this easily, customers will get direct benefit and drivers will not get affected.”

The MEN has approached Uber for comment.

source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... r-11011264

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

They don't have to work for UBER. They can always leave.

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Grandad,

I can't believe there surprised at what uber have done as it's not exactly the first time Uber have pulled this stunt.

Exactly, Ha ha demonstration??? lol
Don't you just uninstall an app if it's cr@p!

Really? You mean fares going down means drivers earning less?

Well I never.

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IDFIMH

No, It's not just fares going down...But Uber are charging drivers more to the drivers.
So, a fare reduction of 14% and Uber charge going up from 20 to 25% of the fare for new drivers.

I worked with them for 5 weeks and it didn't pay so how it will pay now is beyond me...

Well...you pay peanuts you know what you get.

You can't fix stupid.

Uber drivers in Manchester angry over 'sweatshop conditions' after fares cut

Drivers say decision to cut fares left them earning below minimum wage

Drivers for the smartphone cab service Uber have claimed they are being employed under “sweatshop conditions” as they launched a protest against a move to drastically reduce fares.

The drivers in Manchester, dozens of whom protested outside the firm’s office in the city, said the decision to cut fares there had been made without concern for their welfare and left them earning below the minimum wage.

They have now written to Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese asking for a “crisis meeting” to discuss the “sweatshop conditions” amid claims some are having to work 90 hours week to make ends meet.

Uber said the average 14 per cent reduction in fares had led to higher demand for the service and average hourly payments for drivers had increased by 8 per cent.

Yaseen Aslam, co-founder of United Private Hire Drivers, the UK’s largest organisation for the private-hire trade, said: “Uber drivers are earning well below minimum wage and are having to work excessive and unsafe hours to meet their costs and earn enough to support their families.”

The US-based firm has transformed the taxi business since it was launched in 2008. Customers use a mobile phone app to book and pay for their ride, which has angered black-cab drivers who say it undercuts their business.

Ahmed Nurein, chairman of the Manchester Private Hire Drivers’ Forum, said: “Manchester City Council must not close their eyes to unsafe, sweatshop conditions as meted out to drivers by Uber.”

Mustafa Khanbhai, general manager of Uber in Manchester, said: “We want the thousands of drivers who use our app to have more fare-paying passengers in their car for each hour on the road. That’s why fares were reduced in the city.”

source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 21676.html

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Scrap uber altogether, they have just barged in causing so much disruption to the trade, and the government haven't done enough to regulate them. On the bigger picture something has to be done about how technology interferes with the work force, for example; any old Tom, Dick or Harry aquipted with the internet, wikipedia, e.t.c, can work in various roles without being qualified! Where do you draw the line, Terminator here we come!?

Why attend an education at all, no need for exams, no need to know, i'll just ask the computer, the uber app, e.t.c.

As a cabbie the sat nav is there as a safety net, should I become unstuck, and I rarely use it, it's just a modern day A-Z basically. Nothing gets on my wick more, than getting in a cab and they ask the postcode, and just type it in, it's so lazy and you feel they are so unprofessional.

It seems as if Uber intends to create a dictatorship, they have thrown themselves at drivers, through fancy advertising, promising a better deal than they previously had, now once they have you in their pocket, it's time to alter the prices / charges to benefit themselves, this come as allot of cab firms have closed due to them, and now the drivers can not return back to those firms.

And where is the uber profits going? into the american economy, not the british as it would be if those drivers had not chosen uber.

I am no defender of UBER but nothing of what you write of has anything to do with the government or UBER

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

They can protest all they like Uber will not change, it's designed to make profit for it's shareholders. The only way to teach them is not to use them as a supplier of work, but, as one leaves two more will join and they will have a large turnover of drivers. Nothing new in that either.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!