Uber must give drivers full workers’ rights after losing appeal to overturn court ruling
The GMB union said the ruling is a 'landmark victory' for workers' rights but Uber claims drivers will lose flexibility
TAXI firm Uber has lost its appeal against a ruling on the employment rights of its drivers.
The GMB union said a ruling was a "landmark victory" for workers' rights, especially in the gig economy.
But the firm has said it will deprive drivers of the "personal flexibility they value" and that taxi drivers "have been self-employed for decades".
Two drivers, James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam, won an employment tribunal case last year after arguing they were entitled to the minimum wage, sick pay and paid leave.
The taxi app has announced it will appeal the latest ruling.
Maria Ludkin, the GMB's legal director, said: "This landmark decision is a yet more vindication of GMB's campaign to ensure drivers are given the rights they are entitled to and that the public, drivers and passengers are kept safe.
"GMB is delighted the EAT made the correct decision to uphold the original employment tribunal ruling.
"Uber must now face up to its responsibilities and give its workers the rights to which they are entitled.
"GMB urges the company not to waste everyone's time and money dragging their lost cause to the Supreme Court."
Tom Elvidge, Uber UK's acting general manager, said: "Almost all taxi and private hire drivers have been self-employed for decades, long before our app existed.
"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.
"The tribunal relies on the assertion that drivers are required to take 80 per cent of trips sent to them when logged into the app. As drivers who use Uber know, this has never been the case in the UK.
"Over the last year we have made a number of changes to our app to give drivers even more control.
"We've also invested in things like access to illness and injury cover and we'll keep introducing changes to make driving with Uber even better."
