The App Drivers & Couriers Union (ADCU) has welcomed the publication today of the London Assembly Transport Committee's report, Who's driving the future of autonomous transport in London?.
ADCU has consistently argued that autonomous vehicle policy must not be driven solely by commercial interests, but should prioritise public safety, democratic accountability and the livelihoods of workers. In its submission to the Committee in June of this year, ADCU called for a legally enforceable Just Transition, meaningful consultation with workers and their representatives, and stronger powers for TfL to oversee autonomous vehicle deployment in London.
ADCU General Secretary Cristina-Georgiana Ioanitescu says:
"This report marks an important step towards ensuring that any future deployment of autonomous passenger vehicles is guided by the interests of Londoners, passengers and workers rather than the priorities of technology companies alone.
“We particularly welcome the recommendations on protecting drivers’ jobs and livelihoods, ensuring a fair transition for the industry, giving TfL stronger powers to regulate autonomous vehicles, and addressing concerns about road safety, congestion and passenger protection.
"The Assembly has rightly identified this as a devolved government issue, something we know to be close to the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s heart, so we hope, and expect, that he will act to restore meaningful powers to license autonomous vehicles to TfL - the body elected to manage, and regulate, London’s transport network - and away from the Department for Transport.
"Most importantly, drivers and their unions must have a seat at the table, and be involved at every stage of the consultation process, every discussion about workforce impacts, and every conversation about what a fair transition looks like in practice. We stand ready to work with both central Government, and TfL, to ensure our members’ voices are heard, loud and clear."
ADCU has received a response from the Secretary of State acknowledging that bogus self-employment is unacceptable and committing to consultation on employment status.
The government also confirms that worker rights are enforceable regardless of the business model, and that HMRC and the Fair Work Agency will take action where breaches of employment law are found.
ADCU is urging the Secretary of State to fast-track this consultation and announce a date imminently: every day of delay is another day drivers are denied the rights and protections they are entitled to in law.
Uber remains in breach of the Supreme Court judgment through its bogus self-employment model and its failure to pay minimum wage or provide in-work benefits.
ADCU looks forward to a robust enforcement response from HMRC and the Fair Work Agency on these well-documented breaches, and will be pressing the government relentlessly until drivers get justice.