Uber Agrees to Union For U.K. Drivers In a landmark deal, the ride-hailing giant allows U.K. workers to join a trade union.

By Euni Han

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Hollie Adams | Getty Images

The GMB Union will represent at least 70,000 Uber workers in the U.K., Bloomberg reports.

"GMB will have access to drivers' meeting hubs [...] It will also be able to represent drivers if they lose access to the Uber app, and it will meet quarterly with management to discuss driver issues and concerns," according to The Guardian.

But there are questions about Uber's commitment level, based on the company's past history, reports The Verge.

In 2017, Uber threatened to back out of areas, like Quebec, that don't provide it legal favoritism. And in California, the ride-hailing giant campaigned alongside rivals Lyft, DoorDash and Postmates for voters to pass Proposition 22 which exempts gig-economy companies from a new employment law. They won --- but drivers have reported falling wages since then. Uber is now attempting a similar move in New York.

But earlier this year, the U.K.'s Supreme Court ruled that Uber drivers were "workers" and should be entitled to minimum wage, vacation pay and pensions.

The GMB says talks accelerated with Uber following the ruling.

But there's still one significant group of workers that's been left out of the ruling and excluded from the recent union agreement: about 30,000 Uber Eats drivers.

Uber and GMB have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Productivity

6 Habits That Help Successful People Maximize Their Time

There aren't enough hours in the day, but these tips will make them feel slightly more productive.

Starting a Business

Her Business Is Solving the $12 Billion 'Porch Pirate' Problem — Here's How a $300 Product Can Keep Your Packages Safe

Melissa Kieling and her son Brennan Naylor co-founded hyve Security to save customers headaches and retailers money.

Business News

'Gen Z Is Obsessed': Chili's Sales Have Skyrocketed Thanks to the Triple Dipper and Turbo Chefs

On an earnings call this week, one analyst said the company's turnaround was "the best one of all time" in the restaurant industry.

Business News

'I Hate Bureaucracy': Leaked Internal Amazon Document Reveals How the Tech Giant Is Cutting Down on Middle Management

Amazon could soon let go of thousands of managers, resulting in savings of up to $3.6 billion.

Franchise

How This Franchise Grew 70% in 3 Years and Became the Top Choice in Tech

Wireless Zone, #1 in the tech category of the Franchise 500, is redefining wireless retail with cutting-edge technology and franchisee support.