the negotiator
I
If your face doesn’t fit…
too much in terms of people and will create a huge layer of bureaucracy. Such a development will add to their existing of its drivers – the people who make the money that negative earnings. The Kleenex approach (other tissues are pays their executives’ fat salaries. I know that a number available) is underpinned by a simple algorithm. A driver who of these Uber executives, as well as a few Professional Driver has any negative comments made against him is given the readers, have asked why I am always “whinging”. boot. No lengthy hearing, no need for statements, no appeal Earlier this year my trade union, the GMB, along with procedures, no nothing! others, won a historic Supreme Court victory. This decided But, I hear you say, this paints the app based company that drivers working for Uber, and presumably other bosses as worse than 19th century mill owners, who also private hire drivers, enjoyed the minimum benefits under sent children up chimneys. I’ve seen the photos of Jaimie employment law, a decision fought against by Uber over Dennot Nyack Heywood and he is clean shaven, nary a whisker on his face, several years. After that, Uber signed a historic recognition The union view no top hat and he does not wear a frock coat. BTW, he does agreement with the GMB that appeared to pave the way from our GMB not send children up chimneys. towards better treatment for all drivers. Ah, I’ll reply, that is true but when you were kicked out of So why did drivers picket Uber’s London HQ on representative your work as a weaver you did not end up owing thousands of Wednesday, October 6? Fellow trade unionists, the pounds for your car, insurance, medicals, licences, etc. Independent Workers Union of Great Britain’s United Private However, termination of drivers from the app still occurs on a regular Hire Drivers (UPHD), called the protest over the drivers and couriers who basis. I know because I have personally written emails to one of the major have been deactivated (terminated/dismissed/sacked) following automatic private hire companies for more than a hundred member/drivers asking checks on their identity via the app. that their drivers be told what it is they have done; when, where and at what Research has shown that a huge number of drivers have been terminated time it occurred and who has made the complaint. Not one response have I this way after years of service because the app failed to recognise their received. faces. Earlier versions of the software used by Uber was found to have a I have had drivers terminated for not allowing their passengers to play failure rate of 21% for non-white female faces, 6% for non-white males, but drum n’ bass through the car’s speakers; apparently executing a U-turn on falling to zero percent for white men. Drivers presenting themselves at the the Westway flyover; supposedly leering after female, and male passengers, UBER hub are turned away even when they can prove that they are the etc. As I said in my previous article, I and the GMB are supportive of all person the app claims they are not. measures that get rid of drivers who act criminally, put passengers in danger The UPHD claims that more than 200 workers were affected this way or or are just bad people. summarily terminated. From my experience as a “workplace representative” However, the use of an algorithm to sack drivers and then fail to give them for GMB member/drivers I believe these figures to be an underestimate. What an opportunity to address the charges that led to their dismissal is wrong. is the situation affecting such workers and what is their position regarding I don’t agree with some that say such action is criminal, but it is very poor workplace security? corporate behaviour and certainly against the corporate social responsibility How app-based transport companies work is as follows. They apply a charter of these companies. device-based app that allows customers to call on the service of workers, So what should Uber and others do? I agree with our colleagues in the normally via a mobile phone, be they couriers, private hire drivers, cleaners UPHD. All drivers and couriers demand a fair process for dismissals in line and so on. The companies claim that this is all “new and shiny” and the with Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) guidelines and workers are all independent contractors. the reinstatement of their sacked colleagues. The companies have stated The claim of the companies that these were “gig” workers doing their that they are taking firm action against bad drivers. If that is the case, then thing while engaged in something more serious has now been dropped and there appear to be an awful lot of bad drivers working across the profession. it is accepted that the majority of those providing services are engaged full I don’t think that is the case. time in their work. What I believe is happening is, as I have said previously, the companies These various apps are not “new or shiny” but are just a new way to put are using computer-based decision-making in order to manage their staff. customers in touch with workers in existing industries. The app companies This is something that I believe is against the law but I will need to check make their money not on the basis of innovation but on good old fashioned this. low wages paid to the workers and taking, at the same time, a slice of their Every worker subject to a process that would lead to their dismissal must workers earnings as commission. So, why do these companies treat their have the opportunity to hear the case against them and then present their bread-earners this way? defence. So companies, adopt the ACAS guidelines and, where necessary, These companies’ business models are based on low fixed overheads. That increase your fares. Do the right thing. includes the cost of humans that are needed many times to resolve problems that the “new and shiny” computers and apps can’t solve. The private hire —Dennot Nyack and courier companies have invented a solution to resolving personnel management, complaints and customer queries. n Dennot is a AGM trade union member and was a former Namely, the “Kleenex” approach to people management and relationships: representative of the GMB’s professional drivers. He is also an author if there are any problems, discard and get a new one. and broadcaster with a strong knowledge of the private hire industry The app companies cannot manage the volume of personnel management and an equality and diversity specialist. issues and customer complaints generated by their success. It would cost email: dennotnyack@yahoo.com — mobile: +44 0740 625 276
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have written many times about uber’s treatment
OCTOBER 2021
