The Supreme Court is set to rule on whether Uber drivers should be classed as workers.
Seven justices will deliver their verdict this afternoon after they considered the latest round of evidence in a long-running fight between Uber operating companies and drivers during a virtual hearing in July.
Uber operating companies, who say drivers are not workers, appealed to the Supreme Court after losing three earlier rounds of the fight.
In 2016, an employment tribunal ruled that Uber drivers were workers, and were entitled to workers’ rights.
The ruling was upheld by an employment appeal tribunal, and by Court of Appeal judges - but lawyers representing Uber operating companies told Supreme Court justices that ruling was wrong.
They said drivers did not “undertake to work” for Uber but were “independent, third party contractors”.
But lawyers representing drivers said the tribunal was entitled to conclude that drivers were working and that Uber’s appeal should be dismissed.
A law firm enlisted by the GMB union to represent Uber drivers says drivers will be entitled to compensation for lost pay, if Uber loses in the Supreme Court.
Leigh Day lawyers think tens of thousands of Uber drivers could be entitled to an average of £12,000 each.
A Leigh Day spokeswoman said, if Uber lost the Supreme Court fight, the case would return to an employment tribunal, for decisions to be made on how much compensation drivers should get.
