Private hire taskforce ‘risks becoming a talking shop while drivers continue to struggle to make a living’, warns drivers’ union
- Perry Richardson
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
The App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union (ADCU) has criticised the Mayor of London’s proposed private hire vehicle taskforce, warning that it will fail to address what it describes as a deepening crisis in the sector unless it confronts pay, licensing and platform power.
Responding to the Mayor’s announcement that a PHV taskforce will be established and is expected to meet for the first time in the first quarter of 2026, the ADCU said recognition of driver welfare issues was welcome but insufficient.
The union said: “The App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union welcomes any recognition by the Mayor of London that private hire drivers are facing serious challenges, but a PHV taskforce that tinkers at the edges will not address the real crisis in the industry.”
While acknowledging the importance of access to basic facilities, the ADCU argued that driver ‘exploitation’ by app-based operators remains the core issue facing the workforce. “Yes, drivers need access to toilets and basic facilities — but above all, they need the Mayor’s active support to end their exploitation by the big app companies that dominate London’s private hire market,” the union said.
ADCU says City Hall plan must tackle pay, licensing and platform power to avoid becoming a ‘talking shop’
The ADCU pointed to declining driver earnings, which it attributed to “opaque algorithmic pay systems, unilateral fare cuts and worsening terms and conditions imposed without negotiation or transparency”. It said these practices have steadily pushed incomes down while increasing working hours and financial risk for drivers.
The union also criticised Transport for London (TfL) over what it described as a failure to control licence numbers. “Transport for London’s failure to tackle chronic over-licensing has been devastating,” the ADCU said, adding that too many licences competing for limited demand had left drivers “working longer hours for less money”.
According to the union, the imbalance has allowed platform companies to continue extracting profits while risks and operating costs are borne almost entirely by drivers. It said this dynamic must be addressed if the taskforce is to have credibility.
“If this taskforce is to be taken seriously, it must confront the systemic problems at the heart of the platform app model — including algorithmic pay, lack of worker voice, and the unchecked power of multinational tech firms — rather than focusing on fringe issues or cosmetic fixes,” the ADCU said.
The statement ended with a warning that without action on pay, licensing numbers and enforcement, the taskforce risks becoming “a talking shop while drivers continue to struggle to make a living”. It added: “London’s PHV drivers don’t need another review that delays action. They need the Mayor and TfL to use their powers to restore fairness, sustainability and dignity to an industry that has been pushed to breaking point.”
