TWU slams Fair Work Uber decision

The move comes as a new survey shows transport and delivery workers in the gig economy are paid less, work more hours unpaid and are less satisfied than other workers.

“The decision by the Fair Work Ombudsman is devastating for workers in the gig economy. Last year we had a landmark victory when a Foodora rider won an unfair dismissal case and we know the same control factors are in play for workers in Uber and right across the gig economy. If this is what our laws are guiding regulators to do then these laws are hopelessly broken and the Government must act urgently to put in place rights that protect all workers,” said TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine.

“In jurisdictions around the world from London to New York and Los Angeles, Uber is being held to account and faced down despite its massive lobbying efforts and bullying. Yet in Australia today it has been given the green light to continue ripping riders and drivers off, sacking them without warning or the right to appeal and ignoring their pleas to be able to earn a decent living,” Kaine added.

“The Federal Government must move urgently to address this gaping problem. Workers must be given rights regardless of their definition under the law. The evidence shows that Uber workers are being abused: the pay is well below minimum rates, there is no right to negotiate the continual decreasing rates, there is little support when drivers are forced to take time off when they are sick or injured and superannuation is non-existent. Will Scott Morrison and his team with their new mandate to govern chose to stand up for workers in Australia or will they side with a billion-dollar backed bully?” he said.

The Rideshare Drivers Co-operative said: “We are very disappointed at the decision not to take action against Uber. Uber continually sends us messages on how we must behave and carry out our jobs. Work is also preferentially allocated based on our ratings and availability for work. If we take time off when sick, we notice a drop off in work allocated to us. Uber informs us through the app what our cancellation and acceptance rate is. They are absolutely controlling how we do our jobs. We believe we deserve rights and protections while we do these jobs.”

A major survey by Queensland University of Technology, the University of Adelaide and University of Technology Sydney for the Victorian Government shows transport workers in the gig economy are more likely to be dependent on the income from gig work and to do the job with greater frequency than other workers, shows the survey of 14,000 people, conducted by.

The biggest category for gig economy work was transport at almost 19%. The report states transport workers are “over-represented” in lower income bands of $15-$20 and $20-$30, before taxes and costs. Transport workers spent a weekly average of 5.2 hours working unpaid.

Transport workers, along with workers with a disability and unemployed people, were among the 15.4% of respondents working in the gig economy who were most likely to say the income they earned was essential for meeting basic needs.

A separate survey by the TWU and Rideshare Drivers’ Cooperative of over 1,100 rideshare drivers in Australia last October showed the average pay is just $16 per hour before fuel, insurance and other costs are taken out. One in 10 drivers has been physically assaulted while 6% have been sexually assaulted. Workers responding to the survey said they faced death threats from passengers towards them and their families, rape threats, sexual assault, being punched in the face, held at knifepoint, had their car windows broken, their cars stolen and have received racial abuse. Almost two-thirds of drivers have had false reports by passengers.

A TWU survey of food delivery riders in Australia shows three out of every four are paid below minimum rates. Almost 50% of riders had either been injured on the job or knew someone who had. Three UberEats riders have been killed while working.

In May rideshare drivers in Australia took part in a day of global protest against Uber while food delivery riders delivered an invoice to Uber offices in Sydney for unpaid wages and superannuation.

In November, a former Foodora food delivery rider Josh Klooger supported by the TWU won an unfair dismissal case against the company, after he was sacked for speaking out about rates and conditions. Last month almost 1,700 riders received back-pay totalling nearly $2.3 million after Foodora was forced to admit it was underpaying their wages and refusing them superannuation.