Uber was dealt another major blow in London Friday when the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) rejected its bid to overturn the committee's previous ruling that the company's drivers deserved proper workers' rights, including minimum wage.
According to Reuters, the ride-hailing service plans to appeal once more. An Uber spokesman said the company has 14 days to apply for another appeal and decide if it wants to pursue the case all the way to the British Supreme Court.
"Over the last year we have made a number of changes to our app to give drivers even more control," Uber U.K.'s Acting General Manager, Tom Elvidge said in a statement. "The main reason why drivers use Uber is because they value the freedom to choose if, when and where they drive and so we intend to appeal."
Friday's decision, which comes less than two months after Uber had its license revoked in London, was dubbed a "landmark victory" by the GMB union representing Uber drivers.
In addition to minimum wage, drivers are seeking workers' rights like paid holiday and mandatory rest breaks.
If Uber's upcoming appeal is unsuccessful, it could establish an impactful precedent for other companies operating in the so-called "gig economy."
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi had publicly acknowledged that his company must make changes moving forward. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether that statement and recent meetings with London transportation authorities will be enough to win back the service's London license next month.
On top of the workers' rights issues, the Transport for London (TfL) has deemed the platform a risk to public safety, arguing that it has demonstrated a "lack of corporate responsibility" when it comes to reporting crimes, vetting drivers and using secret software to block regulators.
About 40,000 people drive for Uber in London while approximately 3.5 million people in the city utilize the ride-sharing app. Uber will continue to operate in the city until the legal process is complete, which could take as long as a year or more.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
