MancX

It's nothing to do with race whatsoever. If you want to imagine a racial element to this whole situation, then you'd say TFL are looking out for the mainly 'non-white' Uber drivers. If Uber were to continue in the UK unchallenged, then they'd continue turning the screw on drivers as they increase market share. Uber drivers need protecting from their own stupidity, and so do everyone else. For me as an Uber driver, I have full sympathy for any Private Hire or Black Cab driver who has lost money and is struggling to pay their bills since Uber came to town. If anybody is racist, it is filthy Uber, who are treating their mainly 'non-white' drivers as complete mugs. It's modern day slavery. Working just to exist, zero rights, zero respect. The drivers are just treated as useful idiots. It's amazing there's so many Uber drivers now that celebrate the fact that PH licence holders are now worse off than ever. Celebrating that fellow industry workers are struggling to make ends meet. Somebody above said "they still think England is an empire." No, the person who made this comment still thinks that way. Bowing down to colonial masters, working for nothing, having no rights. That working conditions and pay for drivers for hire have declined so much in this country, has been enabled by the availability of imported, subservient and unskilled workers from elsewhere. Unfortunately we are all paying the price. If anybody wants to play the race card, I suggest you think about this: Action speaks louder than words: For those who come to this country and work in an industry where by your presence will mean fellow workers of a different race will be earning less money and all that entails, making life a struggle. Then who are the racists?

You won't be able to afford a pint working with Uber. Straight to bed, demoralised and exhausted at the end of your shift.

That went quick . . How is it going after 2 years of Uber in Liverpool? You guys still earning above minimum wage?

Yes there is growth. House prices rising etc. But wages? No, they aren't growing. So, everything is more expensive. Harder to get on the property ladder. Harder to pay bills. Harder to save. Harder to live. Where Uber/PH/taxi driving is concerned, the current situation is a disaster. If you can tell me or anybody else how you think Manchester's population increase benefits ordinary Mancunians, let us know. If you can tell me how Uber benefits anybody from Manchester who drives PH, black cab or Uber, let us know.

Unfortunately it is not possible. Yes you can work in Manchester with a Wolverhampton licence. You cannot however onboard in Manchester with a Wolverhampton licence.

How does Manchester being a 'second London' with much investment put into it, make Uber earnings any good? Increased population = increased drivers = less money. Driving Private Hire in Manchester payed noticeably more money before Uber came along. Even drivers in the 80's and 90's in Manchester earned far more money than drivers do now. That was before huge investment was put into the city, before large scale immigration and population increase. The result of the above has forced Manchester's working class to share their collective 'wealth' with newcomers. Thus leaving Mancunians worse off. Projects like the so-called Northern Powerhouse are a huge con. Of no benefit to ordinary people who see their earnings decrease, communities broken, congestion, pollution, stress. Green belt/brown belt built on. Increased crime, or seemingly so. Concrete jungle. 'Second London' and huge investment only benefits big business. Manchester will lose much of what makes it a great place.

I don't mean to put you off. Just like to give an honest opinion of what driving with Uber in Manchester is like. It is possible to earn a bit more than the above for those same hours, but not a whole lot more. You would have to push yourself all the time, be prepared to drive miles to pick ups. You would need to have a certain mindset. To pick people up for such little money per trip is disheartening. Driving Uber, or for a private hire minicab firm in Manchester is more or less a last resort. Or for those who do not like to conform to the normality and formality of a regular permanent job. Also for those who are happy to drive a nice car, but earn little money and have a low quality of life. A regular job driving for Tesco home delivery, Ocado, Argos etc would be a far better option. . . . If you already possess a Private Hire licence it would be worth trying it out by renting a car first to see what you think. However, to go through the process of applying for a licence if you've not got one already, is not worth the bother.

Maybe car finance? £200+ per month over 5 years? = £50+ per week. Car insurance (special Hire and Reward insurance required by law.) = £60+ per week. Maintenance = £10+ per week. Cleaning = £10+ per week. Miscellaneous costs (PH Licence, road tax, bus lane fines, small accidents etc.) = £20 per week. Eating/drinking at work £20?+ per week. Diesel for 40 hours work = £60+. £230 costs per week. 40 hours x £11 = £440 - £230 = £210 for 40 hours work. . . . Then take off tax and national insurance. Financing a car is the best option to save money as renting one is £180+ per week. Just risky in the event of being unwell at any point, you would not be able to pay the finance payments. Or if you get sick of the job etc. You are an experienced Uber driver in Hungary, I don't know how much different the laws and regulations and costs of driving is compared to the U.K? You will know most of what I have pointed out. I have written this reply also with other people in mind, who have not driven with Uber before and may read this. It is a warning to those people.

Yes £11+ in your hand. £11+ per hour is after Uber's 25% is deducted. You will maybe be able to squeeze out a bit better average hourly takings, but not much more. How will you manage passing a knowledge test if you have only been in the UK since March?

Realistically, £11 per hour would be most likely when averaged over time. Then minus possibly 100s of £s per week costs. Do you already possess a relevant Private Hire licence? Are you going to rent a car?

How do you, and other Uber drivers that you know, feel about 'out of town' Uber cars working in Liverpool? Manchester has seen a notable increase in London/TFL licensed cars working in Manchester. Are there many in Liverpool? Do you see many Manchester, or Greater Manchester licensed cars, Bolton, Oldham etc etc? . . And Rossendale cars, there must be a good few surely?

That's the impression I have found myself when dropping off in Liverpool. Black cab drivers and the local PH drivers are not happy with Uber and Uber drivers. They will be using intimidation tactics on Uber drivers. Liverpool is kind of a unique place, where there is a strong sense of identity and togetherness amongst local drivers. With Liverpool being one of the more recent places to get Uber, the drivers have had the chance to see what's happened elsewhere, seen far more out of town drivers coming into their city, seen the way Uber destroys the earnings of local drivers. They don't want any of it. Who can blame them? I personally have done a few jobs there when dropping off, just to test working in another city. I would not do it again. I don't feel it is my business working somewhere unless I lived there. I don't think Liverpudlians who work with Uber are popular. Out of towners are certainly not.

What is it like for Liverpool Uber drivers working in Liverpool at the moment? Are you having any run-ins with any local PH drivers (Delta etc) or Black Cab drivers? Many people who drive for hire as their livelihoods in Liverpool are keen to protect their earnings as Uber will be a disaster for them (a disaster for Uber drivers too in the long run.) Many view Uber drivers as scabs, 2nd rate drivers, and basically: the enemy. In a way, you can't blame them for thinking that way. So, is everything going ok?

It's already bad working Uber Manchester now. No need to wait 2 years. To say surge is 'booming' and to suggest there is good money to take home after costs is complete nonsense.

Impressive hours there, but not impressive earnings for you hard work. You deserve alot more for those hours. Your hours average over 10 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK! to earn that. Add on other time for having a break, tiredness. Time out on the road could well be 80+ hours. This is not sustainable at all for most people for many reasons. . . . And these figures are NOT your earnings. Most people rent a car at around £200. To work that many hours on the road (70 hours+) will cost well over £100 diesel. Other costs add up to over £20 per week. Take the above costs off. You will then have your earnings. Oh, and tax and national insurance to come out of your own pocket. Doing those long hours is dangerous to you and your customers. Also it is damaging to physical and mental health and wellbeing. The amount of Uber cars/private hire cars involved in accidents due to tiredness is a big problem for the trade. Are these the figures from when you worked in Manchester?

You don't make £800-£900 for 50 hours. Complete fantasy figures. What is your role with Uber? Social media monitor? Advertising and marketing team member?

Would be interesting to hear how much you made that week? Surge is most definitely NOT 'booming' as you say.

£12 an hour in Manchester is optimistic. More like £10 per hour takings after Uber deduct their 25%. Leeds will be very similar. If you hire a car that Uber recommends, then 40 hours x £10 = £400. - £180 car rental - £50 fuel - £20 other costs = Take home £150 For some reason, potential new drivers do not believe these figures. But it is a reality. People do not believe a driver can earn so little. They underestimate how bad the job market is for unskilled, low skilled, and even skilled people. How people are desperate to take any work available. Uber and other companies are fully exploiting the situation.

Hi George, do you work with Uber in Manchester? I'm just wondering where you got those numbers from?

Liverpool drivers will be O.K. for now. Uber was fine in Manchester also initially. Try it for a few nights in Manchester and see what Uber has done. It's a disaster. You will be able to work in Manchester also. Once you get down the 62 and past Warrington, you will see in Manchester where it is surging etc. and will be able to do some jobs. You may have done that already? Uber make it OK for drivers at first to attract drivers. Then when established they turn the screw. Bad news for Liverpool drivers. It shouldn't be legal what Uber are doing.

How is it going in Liverpool? As Uber is relatively new in Liverpool, I'm guessing earnings will be O.K. However, that was the case in Manchester. Once Uber get a real foothold, earnings will drastically reduce, leaving the whole of the private hire and taxi trade in Liverpool a complete mess. . . . It won't take long either.

A more realistic figure would be £12 -£15 at weekend nights, after Uber's 25% is deducted. Even less during the day and less still during the week. Once costs are deducted, drivers are left with extremely little. If you hire a car from Uber's partner, Enterprise, or another hire company then doing 40 hours, which averages you taking £10 per hour will mean taking home only £150 after paying car rental, fuel and other costs. Uber have pulled off the biggest con of all time on the working class drivers in this country.