ADCU questions Uber for excluding drivers from its list of stakeholders in inquiry response
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 20
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 22
Uber’s response to the Transport Committee’s inquiry into taxi and private hire licensing has come under fire from driver representatives, with the App Drivers & Couriers Union (ADCU) criticising the company for excluding drivers from its list of stakeholders.
In its written submission, Uber outlined its views on national licensing standards, data sharing, and technology as tools to improve safety. However, while Uber named “government, authorities and safety partners” as key collaborators, it did not mention any trade unions or groups that represent drivers, including ADCU, which has more than 10,000 members in the private hire sector.
ADCU said this shows a continued failure to engage meaningfully with those working in the trade. The Union also challenged Uber’s position on cross-border licensing. Uber claimed that restricting cross-border work would damage service levels and drive up illegal plying for hire. ADCU, in contrast, argued that cross-border operations have led to oversupply, lower earnings for drivers, and added congestion and pollution in affected areas.
Another key point of dispute is data transparency. While Uber supports greater data sharing with authorities over safety complaints, ADCU pointed out that drivers still have no access to data on pricing and job allocation. This lack of transparency leaves drivers unaware of how much they will earn for a job until after accepting it, which undermines financial planning and stability.
Uber also promoted its use of video and audio tools within vehicles as evidence of improved safety practices. But ADCU accused the company of failing to match this with procedural fairness. They highlighted that drivers can be deactivated based on passenger complaints, without a clear appeals process or opportunity for union representation. The union called for companies like Uber to adopt fair disciplinary procedures aligned with ACAS guidance.
Cristina-Georgiana Ioanitescu, President of ADCU, said: “The submission is a one-way street, controlled by Uber, with no space on the road for the PHV drivers that are the industry’s lifeblood. And while some of the proposals being made are interesting, such as the idea of national standards for PHV, most of Uber’s evidence to the inquiry disregards the real experiences of drivers, and fails to address the challenges they face.
“Uber’s framing of technology as central to improving safety and compliance is fatally undermined by its continued use of the controversial and highly dangerous ‘Trip Radar’ function, which increases the risk of accidents, because it requires drivers to engage with their phones while driving, the dangers of which are obvious. It also impacts drivers’ financial wellbeing by forcing them to take jobs miles away for relatively low fares, or sending them to areas where the demand for fares is too low to be financially viable. There’s also no clarity from Uber on where liability lies in the event of an accident, which places drivers at risk of litigation.”
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