GMB Union to launch legal action against Bolt as concerns over workers’ rights reach boiling point

GMB Union are planning to launch legal action against private hire firm Bolt over ongoing concerns around workers’ rights.

The case will be on behalf of drivers who are allegedly being denied their workers’ rights. Proceedings will be lodged with the Employment Tribunal in London say sources.

The Union points out that other ride-sharing apps, such as Uber, have accepted their drivers are workers and given them the rights to which they are legally entitled. However, the GMB union say Bolt continues to use a ‘bogus self-employment model’, denying drivers sick pay, pension rights and other benefits.

Mick Rix, GMB National Officer, said: “Bolt needs to wake up and accept its responsibility to its drivers.

“Other companies have done the right thing, why can’t Bolt?

“Guaranteed hours, sick pay, pension contributions – these aren’t privileges to be bestowed when companies feel like it, they are the legal right of all UK workers.

“GMB will fight bogus self-employment and exploitative practices whenever and wherever we can.”

This week the App Drivers & Couriers Union (ADCU) arranged a 24-hour work stoppage and demo against the same firm over a claimed failure to respect basic worker rights.

Strike action took place throughout the day on Wednesday 15 June. Drivers represented by the ADCU specifically demanded:

• Fares increase from £1.42 per mile and £0.13 per minute to £2.50 per mile and £0.20 per minute

• End to unfair dismissals

• Bolt to comply with the Supreme Court ruling on worker rights in the Uber case because it is applicable to Bolt also.

• Bolt to provide drivers with access to data and to transparency of algorithmic management.

Yaseen Aslam, ADCU President, said on the day of protests: “Bolt’s investors have become fabulously wealthy on the back of worker abuse and tax avoidance. Despite their reliance on a public license to operate in the UK, Bolt has unashamedly become the unacceptable face of capitalism with behaviour almost worse even than Uber's.

“Bolt has hung the workforce out to dry by leaving them exposed to fuel and other operating cost inflation but without any pay increase or supplement. Drivers have now reached breaking point which is why they have gone on strike and are asking the travelling public to support their demand for fair pay and fair treatment.“