Fresh Uber strike proposed later this week as some drivers look to extend January action over pay concerns
- Perry Richardson
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Private hire drivers are being urged to take part in a further nationwide strike against Uber later this week, extending a campaign that began with action on 12 January.
The latest call, circulated widely on social media, asks drivers to log out of ride-hailing apps from 6am to 7pm on Friday 16 January in protest at what organisers describe as worsening pay and pricing conditions.
The proposed action has received public backing from Private Hire and Taxi Monthly (PHTM), which has encouraged drivers to participate. In a message shared across driver networks, PHTM said fares had “dropped everywhere” and warned that pressure on driver earnings was continuing to build, adding that drivers were no longer prepared to work at below-cost rates.
The renewed strike call follows action earlier this month supported by the App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU), which urged members to support a UK-wide stoppage against Uber on 12 January. That action ran from 7am until midday and focused specifically on drivers operating outside London.
Private hire platform PHTM has backed a new UK-wide log-off on 16 January, following strike action earlier this month against Uber’s revised driver terms
During the 12 January stoppage, drivers were asked not to log into the Uber app and were instead encouraged to work for alternative platforms, including Bolt, or for local taxi and private hire operators. The union framed the move as an escalation of its dispute with Uber rather than a complete withdrawal from work.
The dispute centres on new terms and conditions rolled out to non-London drivers one week earlier. Under the revised agreement, Uber introduced a variable service fee ranging from 3% to 49% per trip. Drivers were required to accept the new terms in order to continue using the platform, leaving many with little practical choice but to agree.
The ADCU has argued that the variable commission model creates significant uncertainty around earnings, making it harder for drivers to predict income or assess whether individual jobs are commercially viable. The union says that at the higher end of the fee range, net earnings risk falling below sustainable levels once fuel, vehicle finance, insurance and licensing costs are taken into account.
Uber has previously said changes to its pricing and fee structures are designed to reflect local market conditions and maintain the sustainability of the platform.
