Taxi drivers will protest outside a council meeting over fears that Uber has an “unfair advantage” and is poaching customers. Drivers say that since the ride-sharing firm started advertising at Gatwick Airport with Uber-specific taxi bays, taxi drivers in Crawley have been pressed out and are struggling to make a living. Now, cabbies want the council to protect the taxi trade in the town and are calling for a crackdown.
Unite union’s Dominic Rothwell said: “Crawley council needs to protect the local taxi trade, which is vital to Crawley’s economic wellbeing, by enforcing its own laws against Uber. “The totally unfair practice of London-based Uber cars picking up fares booked while they are parked up in Crawley must end.” Under licensing laws, Crawley taxi drivers cannot pick up fares outside of their specific area.
But London-based Uber drivers can circumvent these rules, coming to the town and picking up passengers. Unite says that Crawley cabbies are heavily dependent on trade from Gatwick and fear that Uber could push them out and threaten their livelihood. Taxi drivers will protest outside Crawley Borough Council’s meeting today, Tuesday, June 18 at 6.
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