LONDON TUBE STRIKES: Union urges Londoners not to blame private hire drivers for any spike in prices as strike action nears
- Perry Richardson
- 9 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union (ADCU) has urged Londoners not to direct frustration at private hire drivers during the London Underground strikes, warning that fare increases on ride-hailing apps are driven by platform pricing models rather than driver benefit.
Industrial action across the Transport for London network is expected to disrupt services from Tuesday 21 April to Friday 24 April, placing significant pressure on alternative transport options including taxis and private hire vehicles operating via ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt.
The union said fares are likely to rise during peak disruption periods due to increased demand, but claims that drivers receive a diminishing share of those higher passenger charges under current pricing structures.
Cristina-Georgiana Ioanitescu, General Secretary of the ADCU, said platform-led “upfront pricing” and variable commission models mean operators can take a significant portion of the fare. She stated that commissions can reach as high as 60%, leaving drivers with reduced real-term earnings despite higher prices paid by passengers.
Union warns of rising fares during industrial action and claims ride-hailing platforms capture majority of surge pricing revenue
Ioanitescu added that algorithmic pricing systems used by ride-hailing companies increase fares during periods of high demand, such as transport strikes, but argued that these mechanisms disproportionately benefit platform operators rather than drivers. She said this dynamic risks creating tension between passengers and drivers, despite both groups being affected by the same pricing systems.
Earlier this year Uber defended it’s dynamic pricing structure arguing that it provides drivers with more work. Andrew Brem, Uber’s UK General Manager told TaxiPoint in February: “At its heart, dynamic pricing helps make more trips happen and that creates more opportunities for drivers to earn. With dynamic pricing, fares adjust to specific local conditions - so fares will reflect factors such as how many trips are being requested at a particular moment, the availability of drivers in the area, and where the trip starts and ends. Things like the weather and time of day make a difference.
“Dynamic pricing is there to create the highest likelihood for a trip to happen by making pricing attractive for both riders and for drivers. Since both rider and driver fares adjust, the amount that Uber keeps from the rider fare varies from trip to trip, from virtually zero to almost half - but this quickly averages out. We encourage drivers to look at their weekly summary to see how much Uber kept from their week’s fares - we often find that drivers are pleasantly surprised when they see the average amount over the week’s trips. We’re absolutely clear that the majority of fares go where they belong: in drivers’ pockets.”
For the taxi and private hire industry, the planned strikes are expected to create short-term demand spikes alongside operational challenges, including increased congestion and longer journey times. Operators and drivers may face higher trip volumes, but also greater uncertainty around journey profitability due to fluctuating fares and commission structures.
The ADCU said it would continue to campaign for improved working conditions and greater transparency in pricing models across the sector. It also called for public understanding during the strike period, emphasising that drivers have limited control over fares set by platform algorithms.
Cristina-Georgiana Ioanitescu, General Secretary of the ADCU, said: “Contrary to popular belief, it is the platform companies, not the drivers, that profit from commuter misery during Tube strikes. Under current "upfront pricing" and variable commission models, Uber can take as much as 60% of a fare in commission, leaving drivers struggling while its profits surge. These algorithmic systems increase fares during times of high demand, exploiting both the desperate commuter and the hardworking driver alike.
"We understand the frustration Londoners feel when the city’s transport network grinds to a halt, but we urge you not to take that out on your driver. Drivers are often the last ones to the negotiating table and the first to be exploited by the platforms. While you see a high fare, your driver is often seeing their real-term pay collapse as companies like Uber manipulate algorithms to transfer wealth from workers to shareholders.
“ADCU remains committed to campaigning for fair treatment, worker rights, and the dignity of all app-based drivers and couriers. We stand together to fight this exploitation, and we ask for the public's solidarity."
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