ADCU prepares drivers for imminent UK-wide 24-hour strike against Uber over commissions and pricing
- Perry Richardson
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union (ADCU) has called a UK-wide, 24-hour strike against Uber, with private hire vehicle drivers urged to log out of the Uber app from midnight on Tuesday 3 February until midnight on Wednesday 4 February 2026.
The action follows changes to Uber’s pricing model and updated driver terms and conditions introduced in January, which the union says allow the platform to take commissions of up to 49 percent on some fares. According to the ADCU, drivers were required to accept the new terms in order to retain access to the app.
Alongside the national strike, the union has announced a picket outside Uber’s UK headquarters at Aldgate Tower on Leman Street in east London. The demonstration is scheduled to run from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday 3 February, with journalists invited to attend and speak to drivers and union representatives.
The ADCU said the dispute centres on Uber’s continued use of dynamic pricing, which it argues has removed predictability from driver earnings and shifted financial risk onto workers. The union claims that fluctuating fares and high commission rates have significantly reduced take-home pay for many drivers, particularly during quieter trading periods.
Union urges drivers to log off app on 3 February as London picket planned outside Uber UK headquarters
Under the current arrangements, Uber sets fares using algorithmic pricing that varies by time and location, while also applying commission rates that can change depending on the trip. The ADCU argues this model leaves drivers unable to accurately forecast income or assess whether trips are financially viable once vehicle, fuel and licensing costs are taken into account.
The union is demanding an immediate end to dynamic pricing and the introduction of a capped commission rate of 15 percent, which it says would provide a more sustainable income framework for app-based drivers. It has framed the strike as a response to what it describes as a growing earnings crisis across the private hire sector.
Uber has not yet publicly responded to the strike call. The company has previously said its pricing model is designed to balance supply and demand while offering drivers flexibility and access to earning opportunities. The impact of the strike is expected to vary by region, depending on driver participation and local passenger demand.
An ADCU spokesperson said: “Uber’s dynamic pricing and extreme commission levels are destroying drivers’ livelihoods. Drivers are being pushed into poverty while the company takes an ever-larger share of the fare. This strike is about dignity, fairness, and the right to earn a living. We call on all drivers to log out, stand together, and join us on the picket line.”
