Uber: EU rules will see us pull out of “hundreds” of European cities — Brussels’ proposal to classify gig workers as de facto employees could slam the breaks on operations across the bloc::An Uber boss has issued a stark warning that Brussels’ proposal to classify gig workers as de facto employees could slam the breaks on operations across the bloc.

250 points

“Our business model isn’t sustainable unless we remove worker rights”

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39 points
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luckely everyone has become wary of what these tech bros startups are all about. Tech companies like this just add extra steps to a preexisting business and pride themselves of being innovative

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10 points

But but but, there’s an app, surely that’s worth all the downsides right.

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6 points

Don’t forget consumer protections!

Uber somehow managed to convince people that it’s not their fault if their drivers don’t follow traffic laws, drive intoxicated, and assault people.

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-53 points
Deleted by creator
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49 points

I forgot how we didn’t have taxis until uber came around.

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-13 points
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Right, let’s not forget we already have an even shittier version of uber.

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-24 points

Taxis also use a platform to function. They have radio dispatch, they rent cars to drivers, they have digital platforms with online orders.

Taxi companies traditionally stiff their drivers out of benefits too, and are typically in bed with local administration and politicians so they never get called out on it.

Their online platforms have ratings you can’t rely on, there’s fake cabs, fake meters, ghost drivers, cash only, angry drivers, dirty and broken cars, aggressive and unsafe driving etc.

So if your point is that taxi companies will fill back the demand after Uber is gone that’s true, but it won’t change anything for the drivers.

In fact many of the Uber drivers will be permanently out of the picture because they’re not pro drivers and are not familiar with the more cut throat taxi business.

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-31 points

Have you remembered just how shitty taxi’s were?

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29 points

Ehhhh… No, now Uber has to contribute to the social security for those workers. And pay then for annual leave.

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-22 points
Deleted by creator
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114 points

The hubris of thinking that a random driver-exploiting app is some kind of godsend utility and we’ll be scared of losing it.

At this point the old school taxi companies have their apps too, you’re not the cool kid anymore, uber

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33 points

All anyone ever wanted was an app. Uber stopped being cheapna decade ago. It’s not competitive so let it die.

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3 points

Around here any taxi driver can have their rating on the online app reset to 5 stars for $50 whenever their want.

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2 points

As much as people hate WalMart, the folks in the south side of Chicago seem pretty unhappy they lost it.

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2 points

Travis Kalanick would refer to himself as an ‘entrepreneur’

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109 points

If you can’t pay your workers ethically then your business doesn’t deserve to exist. Simple as that.

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22 points

Yes. These people are not entitled to be business owners. If they can’t hack it, then get out of the way for the people that can. But don’t worry, business owners - I’m sure you’d be perfectly happy being a gig worker for another company instead, right?

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6 points

Tell that to the shareholders

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81 points

If your business model requires the economic exploitation of your workers, your company possesses no legitimate reason to exist.

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22 points

Similar to what I always say: if your company’s survival relies on tax evasion, you shouldn’t have a company.

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15 points

This might not be universal, but here it doesn’t even require it.

Back in 2017, Uber tried to expand to my home province and tried to get us to change our local regulations regarding rideshare (it boiled down to Uber being required to call its drivers employees and to function like the pre-existing taxi services).

Local government doesn’t budge, so Uber decides that it doesn’t want to come anymore. Within the year, a local alternative pops up that complies with the regulations Uber tried to fight, and they’re still profitable 6 years later.

It’s not that Uber isn’t capable of paying their employees living wages, it’s that they can earn more money if they don’t.

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65 points

"Since 2021 in the UK, Uber drivers are considered ‘workers’, which is not full employee status but does mean they receive sick pay and annual leave.

The firm has gone further than UK competitors including Ola and Bolt in worker benefits.

The number of drivers on the UK platform has doubled in recent years."

Go fuck yourself uber.

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