Uber Share changes prompt GMB Union concerns over driver cancellations and fare fairness
- Perry Richardson
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
Uber’s proposed changes to its Uber Share service have prompted concerns from the GMB union, which says the plans appear to place greater emphasis on improving passenger reliability without first addressing the financial reasons many drivers choose not to accept shared trips.
In a message to members via its online forum, GMB National Uber Representatives confirmed they had been contacted by Uber regarding planned changes to the Uber Share process. The union said it had already submitted a series of questions and concerns to the platform ahead of its next quarterly meeting with the company.
In its submission to Uber, the union said: “Many drivers report support for the concept of shared rides itself, but the level of fares being offered are not adequate, where many drivers feel that the additional amount paid for taking on a second rider is not always proportionate to the extra time, mileage, inconvenience and complexity that can come with managing multiple passengers.”
The representatives added that if Uber is experiencing a high number of declined co-rider requests, “it may be worth examining whether the pricing and incentives attached to these trips are sufficiently attractive for drivers, rather than simply removing a feature that allows drivers to express that preference quickly and transparently.”
Alongside concerns over pay, the union has also sought clarification on how the revised process would work in practice. Questions submitted to Uber include whether drivers would be required to begin travelling towards a second pickup before being able to cancel, whether that additional time and mileage would be paid, and whether any cancellation at that stage would carry the same consequences as the current decline option or potentially affect a driver’s account standing.
The GMB has also requested clarification over Uber’s use of the phrase “legitimate reasons” for cancelling a shared trip, asking the company to explain precisely what circumstances would qualify.
The proposals relate specifically to Uber Share, the company’s ride-sharing product that allows passengers travelling in a similar direction to share part of a journey. While the service aims to lower passenger costs and improve vehicle occupancy, it has attracted mixed views from drivers, many of whom have argued that the additional operational demands are not always matched by higher earnings.
The GMB said it expects Uber to respond to the questions during the next quarterly meeting between the two parties. The union told members it would share the company’s response once discussions have taken place.
