Uber used intense and unrelenting control of the drivers who took passengers and delivered food, a lawyer acting for two unions representing some of the men has told the Employment Court.
A group of drivers for Uber and Uber Eats – through unions E Tū and First Union – have asked the Employment Court to declare that they are employees.
This would mean they would have the same rights as other employees like bereavement and holiday leave and pay equity.
Lawyer Peter Cranney said drivers were in an inherently unequal position and therefore vulnerable. Uber controlled what information the drivers got. There was an obligation to do some work and if they did not, they got cut off.
Cranney said the rating system was a key tool and Uber monitored the ratings.
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