Precarious workers to stage Halloween protest during Uber’s court appeal

At the last of Uber's employment rights dispute hearing, workers with the IWGB are hoping to finally teach their "bloodsucking bosses" a lesson.

Uber drivers and other precarious workers organised by the Independent Worker’s Union of Great Britain (IWGB) will be spooking bosses at the end of next month with a national demonstration.

Uber will be at the Court of Appeal aiming to reverse a ruling that forced the company to treat its workers as workers (limb b workers, to use the jargon’, rather than independent contractors. The ruling gave Uber drivers basic rights such as the living wage, paid holiday and rest breaks.

October 30 will mark the final hearing of the dispute between Uber and its drivers before it heads to the Supreme Court. A victory for the IWGB and the Uber drivers could set the precedent to all employers and workers inside the gig economy.

Couriers, cleaners, receptionists, foster care workers, electricians and others are expected to join the demo alongside Uber drivers.

IWGB spokesman Emiliano Mellino told Left Foot Forward:

“We want to take the media attention around the Uber case to shine a spotlight on precarious working conditions throughout the UK. From outsourcing to the so-called ‘gig economy’, there are an increasing number of companies using dirty tricks to deny their workers basic rights. We hope to bring together all kinds of workers on the day, be they cleaners, couriers or hospitality workers, to take a united stand against this attack on our rights.”

The union branded the protest the “Rise of the Precarious Worker”, playing on the auspicious date of the appeal and the idea that Uber killed workers’ rights.

IWGB United Private Hire Drivers branch secretary and co-claimant in the employment rights case against Uber, Yaseen Aslam said:

“Two years after winning our first case for the right to earn the minimum wage and holiday pay, drivers continue to suffer sweatshop conditions and Uber is still fighting us through appeal after appeal. While the government and local transport licensing authorities dither on worker rights, its been left to us alone to hold the line. This is a must win case because if we lose there will be no stopping other exploitative employers from following Uber’s ghoulish ways.”

The protest will include a march starting at Transport for Longon’s HQ, walking past the Royal Courts of Justice and ending at the University of London where workers are fighting to be taken back in-house.

It is yet to be confirmed whether Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will make an appearance in vampire costume.

Joana Ramiro is a reporter for Left Foot Forward. You can follow her on Twitter for all sorts of rants here.

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