Employment lawyer on Uber offering drivers union representation

Uber Technologies Inc. announced that they are providing their drivers  with private-sector union representation. This is the latest update Uber has taken seemingly to offer more rights and benefits to its couriers.

An Ottawa employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, who represents David Heller in a class-action lawsuit against Uber, says this agreement will not offer much for drivers.

“On paper, it looks like it may be giving some very limited additional rights or benefits to the drivers, but practically speaking, it doesn’t give them very much,” the lawyer says in speaking with the Canadian Press.

The lawyer goes on to explain there are possible conflicts of interest. “If I was a driver for Uber… I’d be a bit worried about where their interests may lie,” says the lawyer.

United Food and Commercial Workers Canada previously outlined several issues it had with Uber on its website which has since been removed.  “This may be Uber’s way of trying to quell the concerns of the union,” the lawyer states.