After four court wins GMB will now consult with drivers over compensation claim
After four court wins in four years, GMB Union will now consult with Uber driver members over their forthcoming compensation claim
GMB scored a ‘historic’ win as the Supreme Court today passed judgement in the union’s landmark worker’s rights case against Uber.
Judges ruled in GMB's favour - determining that Uber drivers are not self-employed, but are workers entitled to workers’ rights including holiday pay, a guaranteed minimum wage and an entitlement to breaks.
This has been a gruelling four-year legal battle for our members – but it’s ended in a historic win. Uber must now stop wasting time and money pursuing lost legal causes and do what’s right by the drivers who prop up its empire.
Mick Rix, GMB National Officer
After winning the four-year legal battle, GMB will now consult with Uber driver members over their forthcoming compensation claim at the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
Lawyers Leigh Day, fighting the case on behalf of GMB, say tens of thousands of Uber drivers could be entitled to an average of £12,000 each in compensation.
Today’s ruling is the fourth time Uber has lost in court over its treatment of drivers.
BREAKING: It's the end of the road for Uber’s mistreatment of drivers.
— GMB Union (@GMB_union) February 19, 2021
This landmark Supreme Court ruling puts all debates to bed.
Time for Uber to accept its responsibilities, compensate drivers and discuss a way forward. pic.twitter.com/xtZFC7tQ4M
In October 2016, the Central London Employment Tribunal ruled in GMB's favour.
Instead of accepting the judgement of the courts, Uber took their case to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in 2017, which also ruled against the ride-sharing company.
Then in 2018, the Court of Appeal judgement became Uber's third legal defeat on this issue.
Mick Rix, GMB National Officer, said:
"This has been a gruelling four-year legal battle for our members – but it’s ended in a historic win.
“The Supreme Court has upheld the decision of three previous courts, backing up what GMB has said all along; Uber drivers are workers and entitled to breaks, holiday pay and minimum wage.
“Uber must now stop wasting time and money pursuing lost legal causes and do what’s right by the drivers who prop up its empire.
“GMB will now consult with our Uber driver members over their forthcoming compensation claim.”
