CALLS FOR UBER TO COMPENSATE DRIVERS AFTER APP GOES DOWN

“Uber must compensate any drivers who tried to log on to the app today and were not able to. They must take responsibility for these lost wages. The loss of income will hurt them hard, as we know from a survey that they earn just $16 per hour before costs such as fuel while 85% said they are not satisfied with their earnings,” said Tony Sheldon, TWU’s on-demand economy coordinator.

Rideshare driver Emmett of the Rideshare Drivers’ Co-operative said drivers were already struggling on low wages. “Drivers would have turned up to work like any other workers today only discover we were shut out. We rely on this money, just like any other worker relies on their pay cheques. We need this money to pay bills and provide decent a Christmas for our families. We shouldn’t have to take a hit because the technology went down,” he said.

“This is yet another example of the need for regulation of the on-demand economy. Drivers are left without wages and members of the public are left stranded. There are serious consequences to the broader economy when a company leaves people hanging like this. How much more destruction can companies like Uber create in our society before the Federal Government holds them to account?” said Sheldon.

Click here for the survey of over 1,100 rideshare drivers: https://www.twu.com.au/home/campaigns/rideshare-drivers/