The event, which is being hosted by The Rt. Hon Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead, aims to raise awareness among MPs of the issues and struggles facing its 10,000 members, and to say thank you to all the MPs who have supported members in their constituencies who have been in dispute with employers such as Uber and Bolt.

In January, ADCU submitted an earnings and security claim on behalf of its members to Uber and Bolt, demanding an immediate 10% earnings for all drivers, and a reduction in waiting time, offering to get round the table to achieve a negotiated settlement.

The claim was also submitted to Transport for London, and to licensing authorities in Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Glasgow, with the demand that they implement recent legal rulings against Uber and Bolt in relation to paid waiting time, and other issues, as part of their regulatory responsibilities.

A key ask from ADCU is an end to the cruel and arbitrary tactic of instant dismissal and de-platforming of drivers as a first resort by the app-based companies after a complaint is made by a passenger, without any explanation or access to representation.

Maryan, a mother of three from Brent, who will be attending the reception on 5th, was de-platformed by Uber without explanation, like thousands of other ADCU members.

She says: “I choose to drive at night, because the roads are emptier and people are happier, they’re usually coming home from parties or nights out and just want to get home, and maybe listen to music in the cab. I love my work, and it helps me to put food on the table for my family. I drove for Uber for 2 years, and everything was fine until I came back from holiday. When I tried to go onto the app, there was a message saying I’d been blocked. When I called to find out why, Uber said I could no longer drive for them, as they had received a complaint from a rider about my driving, and I was blocked for good. There was no explanation, no notice, no opportunity for me to give my side of the story.”

Maryan was too afraid to contact TfL, in case she lost her licence and her ability to work for other platforms. So she contacted her MP, Barry Gardiner, who wrote to Uber for an explanation. They claimed a number of complaints had been made against Maryan for “dangerous driving”, and that she had received three in-app written warnings following those reports.

Maryan, who always drives within he speed limit and says she was never told about any of any of the alleged complaints, or received any of the warnings, says: “If I’m such a dangerous driver, then why do I still have a clean driving licence, with no offences for speeding, or anything else?”

ADCU is calling for the app-based companies to follow standard ACAS guidelines in relation to complaints against drivers, and for drivers to have the right to representation to the platform companies before being dismissed.

Zamir Dreni, elected General Secretary of ADCU, comments: “The app companies are able to get away with this due to the bogus and forced self-employment of drivers, something which 100% of our members are affected by. The regulators know it is going on, and there is a commitment to tackle it in the new Employment Bill. MPs have a vital role to play in ensuring that the new legislation fully addresses this cruel and arbitrary practice, which is ruining the lives and livelihoods of our members, and we will be talking to them about how to construct a solution that offers enhanced terms for our members, while recognising them as workers.”

“Our members are the driving force, literally, behind the night time economy, and the lifeblood of the UK’s towns and cities. But many are working dangerously long hours, and struggling to make ends meet, because of the nefarious practices of the platform employers. We look forward to talking to MPs about how they can better support drivers, and make sure the Employment Bill that’s coming down the line provides a fairer deal for our members," says Dreni.

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