Photo: CityAM
Just recently, Uber scored a small victory in London when Transport for London (TfL) reinstated its license on a temporary, trial basis. It turns out, things are about to get worse for the ride-sharing company.
Sky News has learned that the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), which counts with 11,000 members in the British capital, is gearing up for a massive legal fight. In other words, black cab drivers plan to take Uber to court (and to the cleaners), with reports saying they might be looking at about £1.25 billion in compensation.
For the time being, the LTDA is meeting with organizations and attorneys, to discuss how to proceed in this case. The goal is to argue that, for at least 5 years, 25,000 black cab drivers suffered lost earnings estimated at £10,000, because of the way in which Uber operated.
The report doesn’t mention more on this, but if these numbers are accurate, the total is of £1.25 billion, which the LTDA might ask in court as compensation for its drivers.
At the time news of this broke, Uber was not aware of any plans of being dragged into court. A spokesperson for the company refused to comment on a situation that’s still in the hypothetical stage. After all, the LTDA is yet to file a lawsuit.
It might not be long, though.
“We've been approached by a number of members to help them explore whether there would be grounds for a potential class action on behalf of all taxi drivers against Uber,” Steve McNamara, general secretary of the LTDA, tells the publication. “We are in the very early stages of obtaining legal advice from leading law firm Mishcon de Reya on whether this is a possibility.”
“We'll continue to do everything we can to support our members and taxi drivers across London by exploring every avenue to ensure they are treated fairly,” McNamara adds.
According to figures provided by the same media outlet, more than 3.5 million Londoners have the Uber app installed, while the company counts with 45,000 self-employed drivers. Should this class action lawsuit materialize, it would spell nothing but trouble for Uber, in a city which has already been trouble enough.
For the time being, the LTDA is meeting with organizations and attorneys, to discuss how to proceed in this case. The goal is to argue that, for at least 5 years, 25,000 black cab drivers suffered lost earnings estimated at £10,000, because of the way in which Uber operated.
The report doesn’t mention more on this, but if these numbers are accurate, the total is of £1.25 billion, which the LTDA might ask in court as compensation for its drivers.
At the time news of this broke, Uber was not aware of any plans of being dragged into court. A spokesperson for the company refused to comment on a situation that’s still in the hypothetical stage. After all, the LTDA is yet to file a lawsuit.
It might not be long, though.
“We've been approached by a number of members to help them explore whether there would be grounds for a potential class action on behalf of all taxi drivers against Uber,” Steve McNamara, general secretary of the LTDA, tells the publication. “We are in the very early stages of obtaining legal advice from leading law firm Mishcon de Reya on whether this is a possibility.”
“We'll continue to do everything we can to support our members and taxi drivers across London by exploring every avenue to ensure they are treated fairly,” McNamara adds.
According to figures provided by the same media outlet, more than 3.5 million Londoners have the Uber app installed, while the company counts with 45,000 self-employed drivers. Should this class action lawsuit materialize, it would spell nothing but trouble for Uber, in a city which has already been trouble enough.
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