Stop Uber in the UK: Rules of Justice …

The Supreme Court of United Kingdom decided this Friday that the American transport company Uber must classify its drivers as their own “workers” and not as self-employed, which ended a legal battle that began in 2016.

The judges’ decision determined that the workers of the company must have access to all “fundamental rights” and to “paid vacation”, For what Uber will have to pay compensation of up to 13,834 euros for each of its workers.

Uber appealed to the Supreme Court after losing a case in three lower courts, after an employment tribunal in 2016 ruled that the company’s drivers were providing their services as workers, not as sub- external contractors.

In this way, the Supreme Court ruling recognizes drivers as workers, but not as employees, who, under UK law, enjoy higher social benefits. However, this “worker” status implied a rejection of the self-employed (“self-employed”) category claimed by the company.

The decision was celebrated by various organizations that defend workers’ rights, such as the GMB union, which said in a statement that it was a “Historic victory“While calling on Uber to ‘stop wasting time and money pursuing lost legal causes’ and support workers who ‘make their empire stronger.’

The UK Supreme Court ruling could also affect the business model of so-called ‘gig’ (precarious jobs), in which workers are only paid for each service provided and which has increased in recent years in different industries. . , like delivery people.

Those who started legal proceedings in 2016 were drivers Yassen Aslam and James Farrar, who were tested in the Supreme Court to verify that their working conditions fell within the definition of “worker” in the labor code.

“Being an Uber driver can be stressful. They can ban you from driving for them in an instant and there is no appeal process, ”said Mark Cairns, an Uber worker in London for 5 years, who was“ delighted ”to say in a statement. ‘to have been victorious after a long legal process.