Hundreds of Uber drivers in Birmingham city centre protest over pay - see why

Birmingham city centre witnessed a large protest conducted by Uber drivers on Thursday evening, 30th May. Hundreds of Uber drivers voiced their demands for 'fair treatment and transparency', expressing their dissatisfaction with the company's working conditions.

The protest commenced at 4pm at the Uber Birmingham Greenlight Hub in Aston, marked by a series of speeches.

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The protest kicked off with speeches delivered by prominent figures such as barrister Ayoub Khan and Independent Ladywood candidate Akhmed Yakoob.

The drivers, with placards, then wound its way through the city centre tunnels, to Birmingham's New Street Station.

So, what exactly are the drivers demanding?

The drivers' demands include:

• An end to dynamic pricing
• An end to fixed pricing
• An end to unfair terminations
• A freeze on new recruitments

Minhaj Uddin, the spokesperson for the Uber Drivers' Union UK, stated, "We remain steadfast in our stance and will continue to protest until our demands are met. We refuse to accept Uber's mistreatment any longer."

The union revealed that they had given Uber a two-week window to negotiate, but the company allegedly did not respond, leading the drivers to intensify their efforts.

What Was Uber’s Response?

In response to the ongoing protests, an Uber Spokesperson told the BBC last month, “We regularly engage with drivers, including through our industry-leading agreement with GMB Union which ensures all drivers have access to full union representation.”

The spokesperson further added that all drivers were guaranteed holiday pay, access to a pension plan, free sickness protection, and earned at least the National Living Wage, with the majority reportedly earning more.