For the first time ever, Uber has entered into a formal trade union recognition agreement for the purpose of genuine collective bargaining.
We congratulate our affiliate GMB on securing this agreement after many years of steadfast organising in support of app-based private hire drivers in the UK. Now all 70,000 Uber drivers in the UK will be guaranteed the right to union representation.
A formal recognition agreement provides a framework for industrial relations and sets out the terms of engagement to be used by the union and the employer in carrying out collective bargaining, consultation and representation. The recognition agreement with Uber is a platform upon which drivers working with GMB can build upon through collective bargaining negotiations.
Under this agreement, workers are entitled to a meaningful voice at work including representation to challenge deactivations, the ability to raise safety issues, mandatory consultation on significant changes to their working conditions and collective bargaining rights.
GMB representatives will also get full access rights to driver hubs to enable them to organise, meet and support drivers.
This development reflects the shifting terrain in the so-called gig economy. The upswing of worker organising, court rulings, and legislative action has demonstrated the inevitability of recognising the rights of app-based workers. App-based workers are no different than any other workers and deserve the same standards of fairness and decency.
We want to see all Uber workers, including UberEats riders, afforded their full employment and labour rights, and we want to see union recognition and collective bargaining become the norm across the entire gig economy workforce.
The ITF will continue to campaign globally alongside our affiliates for the implementation of our 10 Gig Economy Employer Principles in order to ensure decent work for all app-based workers.
For more information, contact: media@itf.org.uk
