Uber’s £30-an-hour claim challenged as GMB says drivers’ earnings no longer match soaring costs
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
GMB has challenged Uber’s claim that drivers are earning an average of £30 per hour, placing driver earnings at the centre of its latest discussions with the ride-hailing platform.
In an update sent to members following a meeting with Uber this week, the union said the current fare structure remains “one of the biggest concerns” raised by drivers. GMB said members believe fares and overall earnings have failed to keep pace with increasing business costs, including fuel, insurance, maintenance and vehicle expenses.
The union said it had called for a “fairer and more transparent fare model”, including consideration of introducing a minimum per-mile rate for journeys.
In its update to members, GMB said: “Fare Structure & Introduce a Minimum Per-Mile Rate. The current fare structure remains one of the biggest concerns for drivers. Members feel fares & total earnings have not kept pace with increasing operating costs, including fuel, insurance, maintenance, and vehicle costs.”
It added: “GMB has raised the need for a fairer and more transparent fare model, including consideration of a minimum per-mile rate. GMB challenged Uber’s claim that drivers are earning on average £30 per hour.”
Journey time calculations were also raised as an earnings issue during the meeting. While the union acknowledged that distance estimates within the app are generally accurate, it argued that estimated journey times often fail to reflect real-world traffic conditions, road closures and major events.
According to GMB, these inaccuracies have a direct impact on drivers’ income because time spent completing trips is not always reflected in earnings. The union said: “Drivers should be fairly compensated for the time spent completing trips.”
Long-distance trips outside a driver’s normal operating area also featured in the discussions. GMB said members continue to report concerns about being sent to locations with limited passenger demand and few opportunities to secure a return fare.
The union said it had asked Uber to consider measures including additional payments for these trips, reduced commission or providing clearer information before drivers accept longer-distance bookings.
Commission levels also remain a significant concern among members. GMB said drivers are seeking greater transparency over how fares are divided and are looking for “a fairer balance between what Uber takes from fares and left for drivers.”
The earnings discussions formed part of a wider meeting covering safety, vehicle categories, app improvements and driver support. GMB said it would continue raising issues reported by members directly with Uber as part of its ongoing engagement with the platform.
