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Uber drivers in Geneva have taken strike action over unpaid wages and lack of social charges and called for the city to take action against the company

UNI Global Union’s Swiss affiliate UNIA is supporting workers at two transport companies exclusively operating for Uber in Geneva who are demanding unpaid wages, social security contributions and better working conditions. The drivers began strike action on Wednesday after Uber refused to deal with their legitimate claims.

The complaints made by the drivers at Pegase Léman and StarLimoLuxe are numerous: wages are being paid late or in installments; working hours often exceed 45 hours per week; social security contributions are being withheld; and wages are well below the contractually agreed 3,000 francs.

UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings said, “This is the Uber model which penalizes workers all over the world. They try to avoid their responsibilities to their employees under the pretense that they are independent workers but it just doesn’t wash. Countries and cities all over the world are saying enough is enough. Now it’s the city of Geneva’s turn to call out Uber on its flagrant disrespect of its workforce. We stand in solidarity with UNIA and these drivers who are finding out the hard way that Uber leads to a dead-end.”

A delegation of drivers, taking strike action, supported by UNIA, addressed their demands to Uber management in Geneva. The drivers are calling on Geneva’s Department of Economy suspend Uber’s license to practice in the canton of Geneva for the duration of the dispute.