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elgfare | 4 years ago

Uber says the majority of drivers don't want this, which I'd call bs on, but has anyone heard from actual drivers what they want?

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lr4444lr|4 years ago

Yeah, actually, I bring this topic up with almost every uber driver whose car I get into, and they tell me they do NOT want to change the freelance arrangement. My brother in law drives for Uber and tells me virtually no one he knows wants it changed either.

kfk|4 years ago

I think Uber might be right here. EU labor laws protect a few but over a certain salary they are not very appealing. In Italy paying a net salary of 2,000 euros will cost the company 6000+. Things included like pension are not worth their cost, a private pension is better and cheaper, same for health services. It’s unfortunate but it’s true.

yawaworht1978|4 years ago

I have paid the ridiculous charge from Rome's airport to the city, it's interesting how many measures airports like Rome, Madrid, Barcelona have to take to keep Uber out as good as possible. I still agree with the Dutch court. First, EU has a goal to somewhat harmonize some laws and taxes. Europe should not simply allow any company to come along and undermine everything. If Europe let's this happen, the consequence is very simple, in case the drivers don't make ends meet, they will claim it from social services, making me the guy who pays for that. So taxpayers are subsidiaries to uebers shenanigans, no thanks. I support the European tax system and social policies, but I am not gonna pay the SV salaries for some "wise guys", I prefer the taxes invested in infrastructure, health care, the useful things, including pensions.if I would prefer the US model, I would go and live there.

brnt|4 years ago

I've never heard anyone here in the EU argue this. Including people over a certain salary. It is, after all, in the interest of the wealthy too that everyone is OK and doesn't need to live in the streets and cause crime, necessitating guns and whatnot as they do in the US.

Paying your tax and premiums is way cheaper and much more pleasant.

Loic|4 years ago

For the company it costs more money, but for the employee, you are way better being employed than contractor.

This is not a surprise, this extra money is effectively bringing the employee health insurance, pension, invalidity pension, unemployment benefit, maximum number of hours to work per week, paid vacations, etc.

If you need to pay it out of your pocket, it turns out to be the same.

In the "old" Europe, the net salary is basically 50% of the cost for the company, sometimes a bit more, sometimes less depending of marital status, country, etc. But this is a good rule of thumb.

the_mitsuhiko|4 years ago

> In Italy paying a net salary of 2,000 euros will cost the company 6000+.

I dispute this number. Do you have a source for this?

GekkePrutser|4 years ago

That may be the case but you can't just decide as an employer that you don't want to honour an employee's rights.

If things don't add up or can be done a cheaper way, talk to the government. Don't stop obeying the law.

ihalip|4 years ago

No way taxes are 66% of the gross salary.

tgv|4 years ago

It isn't (only) about what the actual drivers want. I'm sure they also want more money, but Uber isn't going to give it to them. It's also about fair competition, health and unemployment insurance, pension, etc.

refurb|4 years ago

What a bizarre mentality. “I don’t care if this is what you want, you cant have it”

colinmhayes|4 years ago

I read an econ paper describing how uber drivers were making much less than they thought after taking into account gas and maintenance costs. I'm usually pretty against paternalism, but they made a really compelling case that uber drivers who were actually making less than minimum wage thought they were making $15-20. I'm not sure they know what's best for them.

eplanit|4 years ago

Uber drivers I've asked have, without exception, said that they oppose these moves to make them employees. I ask almost every one whose car I get in.