Shadow business spokeswoman Rebecca Long-Bailey sparked a debate on the gig economy by revealing she doesn’t user Uber because she thinks its treatment of its workers is not “morally acceptable”.
Speaking on the Today programme, she said: “I don’t personally use Uber because I don’t feel that it’s morally acceptable, but that’s not to say that they can’t reform their practices”
The comments came ahead of the Taylor review of employment practices in the modern economy, the subject of Theresa May’s first major post-election speech.
Our readers shared their views on Uber, the gig economy, and the implications of the Taylor review.
‘Uber isn’t the worst problem in the gig economy’
‘It’s a race to the bottom’
I've worked for Uber, a local private hire firm, and as a black cab driver. Black cabs are too expensive however it's the council who sets the fares not the driver. He just presses a button on the meter and drives.
Uber are cheap but with surge pricing they can catch the customer out when he least expects it. Uber drivers who work 12 hours a day to make ends meet (due to the cheap fares) earn something close to minimum wage for their troubles.
Your local private hire firm used to be the best option for both the customer and the driver, but now the market is saturated and no one is making enough money. The majority of taxi drivers need tax credits to supplement their income. Uber have flooded the market with supply, it's a race to the bottom.
‘People won’t stop using Uber’
Uber are cheap. People won't stop using them.
Let's not lose sight of where people really stand (rather than where they profess to stand).
They want better working rights and salaries for themselves, and also want to buy goods and services as cheaply as possible.
‘They’re not forced to drive’
Uber isn't necessarily cheaper than a usual taxi in this country, unlike in the US for example where it is markedly cheaper. but it's readily more available. What's morally unacceptable?! They're not forced to drive.
I'm a contractor and I know full well if I don't work I don't get paid, that's the balance I strike up and a decision I've made.
‘Online retailers should give us ethical options’
Bailey is absolutely correct - it's no longer acceptable to use Uber from a moral point of view.
I feel exactly the same as Deliveroo.
I just wish that online retailers would give us an option to use an ethical delivery service when ordering online (I.E. not Hermes or Yodel) - I'd gladly pay more to use Royal Mail - where I know that people are at least being paid a set rate of pay above minimum wage with statutory benefits. Coupled with the fact that Royal Mail are reliable and its win win. It wouldn't take much to work this out.
‘People at the bottom must be fairly rewarded’
I love the Uber justification - net payment per hour is £15 - no i've no idea how that is worked out, but if they were actually driving for that time then almost 50% would go in fuel, then there is wear and tear and insurance etc on the vehicle, even if we forget the depreciation of it due to private hire use and likely excessive mileage.
I have no problems with any of these business models as long as the people at the bottom of it all are being fairly rewarded.
To base an income on a minimum of 1.2x minimum wage and cost upward from that seems a sensible starting point for a discussion.
‘Gig economy workers should be given employee status’
I have been self-employed for much of my working life. In order to be considered self-employed by the tax authorities you need to show that you have more than one client and that you are in charge of your working life, i.e. which jobs you take on and when. "Gig economy" workers, such as Uber drivers and Deliveroo cyclists, as far as I can see, fulfil neither of these requirements. Therefore, in much the same way as market research interviewers in the 1990's, they should be given "employee status" or whatever it was caLled, which gives rights to sick pay, holiday pay and forces employers to use PAYE.
Agreeing with several previous posts on this thread, that Uber is not the worst gig-thing, and certainly not the largest problem.
I worry more about workers whose employers force them to change to zhc or 'self-employment' in what are full time permanent positions - taking away their security in order to save the employer money, but giving them no flexibility in return for that loss.
And the related rise of Agency working, also mentioned earlier. And 'consultants', and the many people - especially women with small children - who have no alternative but to try to start some sort of self-employed business out of desperation, even if it has zero potential to help their situation.
The large-scale gigification of the main economy, as you might say, rather than the small-scale addition of a gig economy.