Uber drivers disrupt traffic in several areas of France, more action expected

Uber drivers have disrupted roads between Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and Uber’s French headquarters location in Aubervilliers in protest against the US firm’s new commissions.

The ‘stop and go’ protest (also sometimes called a ‘snail protest (opération escargot)’ due to the slow-moving traffic) was called for by the union FO-INV, and took place on the A1 motorway this morning (Tuesday, November 12) between the airport Paris Charles de Gaulle and Aubervilliers. 

The Paris protest came after similar action took place last week in Toulouse, and ahead of further plans to blockade the Rungis market from 05:00 tomorrow (Wednesday, November 13). 

Read more: Taxi drivers in Toulouse stage ‘snail’ protests against sector deregulation

Further mobilisations are planned every week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, said Brahim Ben Ali, general secretary of the FO-INV union, to France Bleu Paris.

Unions are also holding similar protests today and tomorrow in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) towards 15:00, on roads from Leclerc Océane to the airport, in front of the Gare Sud, and the city’s prefecture. The prefect has said he will hold a meeting with three drivers tomorrow. 

Protests are expected to take place on Quai Malakoff in front of the Mercure hotel, until 18:00, reports Ouest-France.

Commission and pay

The drivers are protesting primarily against an increase in the commission charged by the platform, which is set to come into force from November 21.

“Uber has announced, without any consultation, that it is increasing its commission by up to 40 or 45%,” said Mr Ben Ali. The current commission rate is fixed at 25%. In contrast, the new commission will vary depending on the journey, costing drivers more.

Protesters are also calling on the company to "immediately introduce” a limit on the number of drivers allowed on the platform. 

“On the one hand, Uber is telling us that it can't afford to increase drivers’ pay, and on the other, it's flooding the market with new drivers. Nothing's going right any more,” said Mr Ben Ali. 

Uber defence

Uber has justified the change by saying that 20% of orders on the app are currently “not honoured”, meaning that they are not accepted by any driver. This has led the company to put commissions up to ensure the model remains profitable, it told AFP.

It also said that drivers will be able to set their own pricing levels for the rides they want to receive, and added that it will make orders that would otherwise go unanswered “more attractive to drivers by applying a reduced service rate”.

Last spring, Uber agreed to set a minimum income of €30 per hour for drivers in France. It agreed to a rate of at least €9 per journey and €1 per kilometre in an agreement signed between the unions and platform representatives. 

‘A charade’

However, FO-INV, has denounced this agreement as “nothing more than a charade designed to buy time for the platforms”, and says that Uber is “continuing its price war to the detriment of drivers.”

He said that “workers are increasingly insecure” and “most earn less than the minimum wage”.

Unions in Nantes are among those to call for a minimum rate of €2 per kilometre, €2.50 per kilometre for long distances, and an extra surcharge at night, at the weekend, and on public holidays. They are also calling for a minimum fare of €15 per journey, and extra security and checks on untrained and fake drivers.

Protests are also being organised outside of France as action is planned in Brussels on November 14.