Uber drivers in Glasgow have staged a protest outside the company's 'green light hub' in Washington Street, demanding fair pay and more protection while warning that a new system being put in place will put lives at risk.

The drivers, represented by GMB Scotland, claim that their earnings have plummeted in the past year, despite prices rising for customers, with only one in five earning more now than they did a year ago.

Ewa Zezula-wozniczka, a GMB union representative, said drivers were struggling to earn enough to cover their expenses, including insurance and petrol.

"Everything went up and our income shrank," she told BBC Scotland News.

The protest comes amid concerns over Uber's new 'Trip Radar' system, which offers fares to multiple drivers simultaneously.

Drivers fear that the system will be a distraction, putting their safety and the safety of passengers at risk.

Amir Humza, 27, has been working for Uber in Glasgow for a over a year, raised concerns with the new dashboard system: "Normally if they offer you a job, you've got a couple of seconds to accept it and so you're losing concentration on the road as you're driving," he said.

"Other drivers are desperate to make money so you have to act quick to get it and it could be dangerous."

GMB Scotland organiser Paul McLaughlin said: "The company's absolute priority must be the safety of our members and every other road user."

He also called for greater transparency in Uber's fare calculation methods. Uber uses surge-pricing to increase fare prices when demand is higher but Mr McLaughlin says Uber must be clearer and ensure the increased revenue is shared with drivers.

He added: “Our members are committed and skilled drivers working to ensure a first-class service for Uber users.

"The very least they deserve is to be given full and clear information about how fares and earnings are calculated.

“The company must understand the need for that clarity and urgently deliver it.”

Uber has been the subject of controversy in Glasgow, with drivers previously protesting over long working hours, unfair dismissals, and pay.

The company has defended its practices, stating that it regularly engages with drivers and has a national agreement with GMB Union.

The Glasgow action mirrors similar protests and pickets across the UK in 2024.  Drivers in Bristol are targeting the company's local office every Wednesday, while in April a convoy of drivers brought Birmingham to a standstill.

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Cornwall Council is reviewing a number of home-to-school taxi routes and contracts as it grapples with increasing demand and rising costs for school transport services.

The council's 2024/25 budget includes a significant increase of nearly £9 million to fund school transport, following a forecasted overspend of £7.4 million earlier this year and it has been mentioned at previous council meetings that it may be paying some contractors over the odds.

It's been suggested that around 50 taxi contracts providing school transport for SEN students have been put out to tender.

While the council has not confirmed the specific routes or schools affected, it has stated that it is evaluating contracts to ensure the best value for money while continuing to support a growing number of children and young people and their families in accessing education. 

Parents of SEN children have expressed concerns about the potential disruption to their children's routines, as many have developed strong relationships with their drivers and passenger assistants.

The council's review is being conducted with the advice of consultants, who have identified potential savings in school transport costs.

Deputy leader David Harris has acknowledged that Cornwall's vast distances and the need for competitive tendering, contribute to the high costs.

The council's chief operating officer has admitted that the local authority has been paying school-run taxi drivers excessive amounts, particularly for children with SEN.

Measures are being implemented to ensure fair pricing while still saving the council money.

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A taxi driver has been banned from the roads for a year after pulling out without indicating and colliding with a cyclist, causing serious injuries.

Stephen Bennett, 50, was parked on the pavement at the top of Aberdeen’s pedestrianised Upperkirkgate, when he pulled out in front of Alan McKay, who was cycling from Gallowgate.

Mr McKay had no time to react when Bennett merged onto the road without indicating, sending him flying over his handlebars. The cyclist suffered a “horrific open fracture” to his arm in the collision.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Bennett denied a charge of causing serious injury by careless driving, and instead told the court that McKay had “cut the corner” and failed to negotiate the roundabout linking Gallowgate with Upperkirkgate “properly” and that he would have spotted the cyclist if he “had stayed in his lane”.

Bennett stated: “I didn’t indicate because there was no one else there whatsoever. The cyclist has come just after I checked over my shoulder.”

However, the court found him guilty after reviewing CCTV footage, which showed that he had not checked for cyclists before pulling out.

Finding Bennett guilty, Sheriff Kevin Duffy told the court: “This is a very unfortunate situation both for Mr Bennett and indeed Mr McKay,”

“The question for the court to decide is whether the quality of Mr Bennett’s driving fell below the standard of a careful and competent driver.

“Looking at it from the CCTV, I have reached the conclusion that while Mr Bennett may well believe he carried out all the checks required, my conclusion is that he didn’t do so immediately prior to pulling out because if he had done so he would have been aware of the presence of the cyclist.

"Furthermore, he didn’t indicate.”

Defence counsel, Gregor Kelly, argued that the mandatory driving disqualification would have a huge impact on his client as it would leave him unable to work, and asked the sheriff to keep the ban to a minimum. 

Sheriff Duffy disqualified Bennett from driving for 12 months – the minimum length of ban legally required for the offence – and fined him £790.

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A cabbie who targeted an underage girl on social media and sent her gifts of money and alcohol has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Matthew Knowles, 45, from Foxwood, was convicted at York Crown Court in August of two counts of meeting a girl for sexual purposes.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing a single sexual image of a child of the lowest category.

The court heard that Knowles had befriended the girl on Instagram and sent her messages.

He told her where to find amounts of £20 and £100 and on one occasion told her he liked the shorts she was wearing.

On another occasion, he told her where to find vodka and beer that he said she and her friends could drink in the park.

Twice he arranged for them to meet, once when he sold her a mobile phone for considerably less than its true value, and once when she was with a friend and he gave her £100 and some Lottery scratch cards.

He also posted her picture on the social media website Kik and described having sex with her to other users.

He started sending messages to the girl's friend asking her why the girl was not responding to his messages.

The friend's parents saw the messages on her phone and police were called. 

Shannon Woodley, prosecuting, said that though none of the messages to the girl were sexual, Knowles was intending at some stage for the connection between them to become sexual.

Knowles was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years, on condition he does a 90-session sex offender treatment programme, 30 days’ rehabilitative activities and 150 hours’ unpaid work.

He was also placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order, both lasting for 10 years.

He told York Crown Court during his trial he is no longer a taxi driver and now has his own removals company.

The judge said Knowles had been having mental health difficulties at the time of the offending. 

* Current York private hire taxi driver Matthew Knowles, 44, is not to be confused with the defendant in this story and has no connection to this case whatsoever.

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Two drivers from Darlington have been fined after being caught illegally plying for hire in the town centre.

Both drivers were caught on CCTV cameras by Darlington Borough Council's control room team.

Beniamin Benali, 60, was given a conditional discharge for one year  and ordered to pay £101 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to illegally plying for hire at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court earlier this month on 2 October.

The court heard that he had picked up a passenger without a prior booking at 2.24am on February 5.

Liviu Oros, 53, was found guilty in his absence of illegally plying for hire and driving without insurance.

Magistrates were told that at 4.25am on February 3 this year, the council’s control room team again identified a private hire vehicle appearing to take a fare without prior booking.

He was fined £1,320, ordered to pay £150 in costs and a victim surcharge of £528. He also received six penalty points on his licence.

Councillor Amanda Riley, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for stronger communities, said: “Darlington Borough Council's licensing team will act upon any information it receives and I hope these convictions send out a message to those people who wish to operate outside the law that we will seek prosecutions to protect the public and the legitimate taxi trade.”

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