The FNV handed over a summons to Uber today in Amsterdam. With this, the union clearly indicates to the company that the bar is full. The union demands, among other things, that Uber recognizes that it is an employer and that it will apply the Taxi CLA. The taxi company will have two weeks to complete the iron of the FNV. If it fails to do so, the FNV will go to court.
“We speak daily with drivers who are extremely dependent on Uber, but who have no certainty about work and income. That is a sham construction and it must end. It is disappointing that Uber is not doing that of its own accord Amrit Sewgobind, FNV director Flex and Compliance
The FNV is also disappointed with the attitude of the national government. The trade union states that it has sufficient possibilities within the current regulations to force Uber to apply the CLA Taxi. But that enforcement and compliance is not forthcoming.
Sewgobind: “Uber, like many other platform companies, works with bogus self-employed people. There are now several court rulings and official reports confirming the bogus self-employment of Uber drivers. For the drivers and the union there is no other option than to summon Uber and, if necessary, to demand compliance with the CLA Taxi via the court. ”
False self-employment
In the past year, the FNV conducted research into the construction that Uber uses in its activities as a taxi company. The union spoke to hundreds of drivers and was given access to many documents and data. All studies, analyzes and conversations show that Uber has all the characteristics of an employer and that self-employment is only possible on paper.
Sewgobind: "The drivers cannot negotiate their rates and Uber uses all the data it collects about the drivers to manipulate them." For example, conversations with drivers show that if they refuse or cancel journeys, their rating goes down and they then receive even fewer journeys.
Exploiting drivers
The FNV calculated that many Uber drivers, after deduction of all costs and insurance, earn considerably less than taxi drivers who work under the Taxi CLA. On average, this can rise to over 500 euros per month. The union relies on the weekly and annual overviews of more than one hundred Uber drivers.
Unfair competition
Uber itself benefits fully from the deployment of bogus self-employed people. With this sham construction, the company saves, according to union calculations, about 58 million euros annually in social security contributions, taxes and pension contributions. This gives Uber a big advantage over competitors who do comply with the law.
Sewgobind: “In this way, Uber competes with other taxi companies on the back of the drivers. If we are not careful, the entire sector will be in a dive and every company will have to operate at rock bottom prices. This has negative consequences for the terms of employment and the social safety net that we have in the Netherlands. ”
Also read: Will there even be an Uber after ordering or is it waiting?
