40,000 Drivers to lose their jobs in the next 21 days

michaels

Tax payers are set to pick up the bill as 40,000 Uber drivers in London lose their jobs.

Service industries will also be hard hit as people decide not to go to the theatre, clubbing etc because it costs too much to get home or there are simply no taxis available.

We already pay through the nose for public transport as tube and train drivers earn far more than the average Londoner and now the London economy is being closed to 21st century internet businesses to make sure a few thousand black cab drivers can also earn enough not to have to work late when it is raining.

Talk about a country shooting itself in the foot.

mrginge

Forget North Korea, the real threat to western civilisation is the inability of people to get a cab after a night at the ballet .

michaels

I am sure for Champagne Socialists the extra cost of a black cab will not be a problem - the fact that there may be none available after 10pm on a wet evening because they have already made their daily takings target may be more of an issue.

And as for the 40,00 unemployed driers - who gives a fork, they probably don't bother to vote or live in safe Labour constituencies anyway - now if they banded together into a union that bank-rolled Momentum then it would be a different matter.

mayonnaise

We always use Addison Lee after a night at the ballet.

mrginge

michaels wrote: »

I am sure for Champagne Socialists the extra cost of a black cab will not be a problem - the fact that there may be none available after 10pm on a wet evening because they have already made their daily takings target may be more of an issue.

And as for the 40,00 unemployed driers - who gives a fork, they probably don't bother to vote or live in safe Labour constituencies anyway - now if they banded together into a union that bank-rolled Momentum then it would be a different matter.

I guess we therefore have to ask whether the great social benefit (and profit) that uber provides is worth more to us than their inability to conform to the regulations of the industry they operate in.

Perhaps given this immense demand, an alternative company will see an opportunity to make slightly less profit but with a more socially acceptable business model.

Or perhaps uber just need a kick up the !!!! to start playing by the rules.

Browntoa

Should never have got a licence in the first place as it was a "metered" service via the app

Only metered service allowed was black cabs

I'd ask questions about how it was waved through first time

michaels

Browntoa wrote: »

Should never have got a licence in the first place as it was a "metered" service via the app

Only metered service allowed was black cabs

I'd ask questions about how it was waved through first time

I agree we should go back to the days where every 'profession' was regulated, could control entry and therefore hike prices as much as they wanted. Remember when it used to cost 1%-2% legal fees to sell a house rather than 500-1000?

Fella

michaels wrote: »

Talk about a country shooting itself in the foot.

A Labour mayor shooting it in the foot!

A_Medium_Size_Jock

All this "whoa is me" is a bit premature isn't it?

Uber will be able to operate until the legal process of the appeal is exhausted, with some experts predicting the process could take years. The company said it will be appealing the ruling in court

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/22/does-uber-losing-licence-mean-londoners-will-service-cut/

michaels wrote: »

Talk about a country shooting itself in the foot.

We get that this has distressed you but London is not a country.

Tygermoth

Ahem 'Woe is me'

[Deleted User]

I have mixed feelings about this. One of my lads uses Uber and is pretty happy with it. The authority in London presumably feels that it has sufficient, reasonable grounds for the decision, otherwise I'm pretty sure that it's legal advisers would have warned it of the likelihood of taking a pasting on appeal.

If ....

- the drivers and their vehicles are subject to to the same level and frequency of checking,

- the Uber drivers have the same obligations in respect of providing an equal service to all, including the less able-bodied, including transporting wheelchair users, guide/assistance dogs etc, (unless the driver has a medical exemption), and

- if the fares are regulated to prevent "rip off" pricing ..

then I'm OK with it.

If any of the above considerations do not apply, then no, I don't think it should be allowed to operate or continue.

I've never used an Uber, so can't really comment on the quality or price of the service, but as long as the levels of public safety are as rigorous as they appear to be for black cabs, then I can't see the problem, subject to the issues set out above.

WR