Private hire union backs second Uber strike this week as drivers escalate pay dispute
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The App Drivers’ and Couriers Union (ADCU) has confirmed its support for a second day of strike action this week against Uber, calling on members to log out of the app between 6am and 7pm on Friday 16 January in protest at what it describes as worsening pay and working conditions.
The move follows strike action earlier in the week, when many ADCU members logged out of the Uber platform between 7am and midday on Monday. That stoppage was organised in response to new terms and conditions introduced by Uber for drivers operating outside London, which came into force on 5 January.
Under the revised agreement, Uber introduced a variable service fee model, with commission rates fluctuating between 3% and 49% per trip. Drivers were required to accept the updated terms in order to retain access to the platform, a change that has prompted concern across the private hire sector about income stability and transparency.
ADCU argues that the new commission structure has contributed to a sharp decline in driver earnings and increased financial pressure. The union says the variability of the fees makes it harder for drivers to predict income or assess whether individual jobs are viable once fuel, vehicle costs, insurance and licensing fees are taken into account.
The ADCU is urging members to log out of Uber on Friday 16 January, following earlier strike action over new terms and falling earnings
The Friday strike call aligns with earlier unrest among app-based drivers, with separate groups and trade platforms also encouraging drivers to log off in protest at falling fares and platform-led pricing changes. While Monday’s action was limited to Uber, the broader mood within the trade suggests growing frustration with the economics of app-based private hire work.
Uber has previously said changes to its pricing and fee structures are necessary to reflect local market conditions and ensure the sustainability of the platform.
Cristina-Georgiana Ionaitescu, President of ADCU, said: “We will continue to put pressure on Uber until our demands are met. With each new wheeze Uber introduces to squeeze more money out of drivers, the harder our members’ pockets are being hit. With driver pay down 16%, many are having to work 12 or 14 hours a day just to make ends meet.
“Enough is enough. We urge all drivers to stand together on Friday, to show Uber that we are united in our rejection of this unfair treatment.”
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