Gatwick Taxi Drivers To Protest Against Uber

Gatwick airport taxi drivers will hold a protest outside a full Crawley council meeting today (May 24) to demand councillors do more to enforce licensing laws against Uber.

The protest comes after Gatwick airport began advertising Uber services to passengers and introduced Uber-reserved bays at the airport.

They say that currently, Uber has an 'unfair advantage' over Crawley’s private hire taxis because it can circumvent the local authority’s licensing laws, resulting in Uber cars registered in London entering the town and waiting for passengers. Private hire taxis, on the other hand, cannot pick up fares outside of their licensing areas unless they have been pre-booked.  

Protestors say the situation has led to an 'in-flux' of London-based Uber cars into Crawley which are then parking up to 'poach' private hire car business.

They added that Uber’s 'growing encroachment' into Crawley’s taxi sector is 'damaging livelihoods' and 'undermining the local economy,' which is heavily dependent on Gatwick.

Unite regional officer Dominic Rothwell said: “

Gatwick airport should not be hand in glove with a race to the bottom employer like Uber. Our members are fighting back against the airport and Uber but Crawley council’s lack of action in enforcing its own taxi licensing rules is leaving them at an unfair disadvantage.

“Ultimately, it is Gatwick and Uber that are causing this through the business model they have set up at the airport. Crawley council has the power to stop this by sanctioning Gatwick and Uber for deliberately breaking their taxi licensing laws.

“Crawley council must clamp down on London-based Uber cars picking up fares booked while they parked up in Crawley and clamp down hard.”

The protest will be held at The Create Building today at 6.30pm.