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GMB demands 5% Uber commission cut as fuel costs squeeze UK private hire drivers
GMB has called for a 5% reduction in Uber’s commission or an equivalent rebate to drivers as rising fuel costs increase financial pressure on the UK’s private hire workforce.
The union published the demand on Thursday 15 October 2026 in an update setting out its priorities for a quarterly meeting with the ride-hailing company.
GMB said the proposed reduction was intended to provide short-term financial assistance to drivers facing higher operating costs.
The union has previously asked Uber to introduce a temporary fuel surcharge, but said the company declined that request earlier this year.
Its latest proposal changes the focus from a surcharge to reducing the proportion of fares retained by the platform.
The union said other operators and licensing authorities had introduced measures to support drivers facing higher fuel costs. However, its latest bulletin did not identify those organisations or provide details of the arrangements.
The commission proposal is the first priority on an agenda covering several outstanding concerns about Uber’s driver arrangements.
GMB is also challenging changes to vehicle eligibility requirements, arguing that drivers who purchased vehicles under existing terms should not be affected retrospectively.
The union said revised eligibility conditions could reasonably apply to new drivers but that existing drivers should be protected where they had already invested in qualifying vehicles.
Another issue concerns drivers who experienced problems renewing their profile photographs.
GMB has questioned whether an £80 goodwill payment offered by Uber adequately compensates drivers who lost access to work because of the issue.
The union wants Uber to consider a system allowing drivers to upload photographs digitally or attend an in-person appointment.
It is also seeking clarification about compensation where technical problems prevent drivers from accessing the platform.
GMB has raised concerns about unpaid return journeys, particularly following examples involving longer trips during an air traffic disruption.
The union argues that fare calculations should take account of circumstances in which drivers must travel substantial distances without a paying passenger.
Questions about UberX Share remain on the agenda, including how cancellations are treated and whether drivers receive payment for time and mileage incurred before collecting additional passengers.
Those concerns follow earlier discussions between GMB and Uber about shared-ride arrangements.
The latest demands build on negotiations earlier this year concerning driver earnings, fare transparency and changes to Uber’s commission structure.
