Uber Eats partners with GMB Union

GMB representatives and Uber Eats leadership will meet quarterly to discuss issues affecting couriers, giving them representation at the highest level of the business in the UK.

The partnership looks to improve health and safety in the industry, drive up courier engagement, and ensure earnings are fair.

GMB will also be able to represent couriers who are members if they lose access to the app.

“This deal between GMB and Uber Eats deal is good news for couriers - we will now be fully engaged on improving their pay and conditions and making work better,” says Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary.

“GMB represents thousands of Uber drivers and has helped hundreds back on to the app after they’ve lost access; now we’ll be able to help thousands of Uber Eats couriers too. GMB has shown once again we are at the forefront of organising in the modern economy.”

The partnership builds on the agreement between GMB and Uber, signed in 2021, which saw thousands of drivers sign up to be represented by the union.

Under the terms of this deal, couriers won’t automatically become members of the GMB and will have to sign up through the usual channels in order to gain representation.

“Uber Eats is delighted to build our partnership with GMB that first began in 2021,” says Matthew Price, Uber Eats UK general manager.

“We strongly believe that couriers should have flexibility, protections and benefits when they earn with us.

“GMB always fights hard to improve work for everyone they represent, and this partnership agreement will mean that together we can continue to raise the standard of flexible work for couriers across the UK.”

Back in 2022, rival delivery platform Deliveroo signed its own partnership with the GMB​​, which gave the union rights to collective bargaining on pay and consultation rights on benefits and other issues, including riders’ health, safety and wellbeing.