'Do the right thing' | Uber, once known for its dire staff benefits, urges rivals to improve theirs

Having faced a stream of bad press about its treatment of drivers in recent years, Uber has now urged one of its rivals to give drivers employment benefits, after one of the UK’s biggest unions said it is taking legal action over a lack of workers’ protections.

The GMB union announced it is taking ride-hailing firm Bolt to an employment tribunal in London over its provision – or lack thereof – of sick pay, pensions, and other worker benefits.

In its statement, the union called on Bolt to follow its rival firm Uber, which has faced similar legal action in the past but, according to GMB, has now “accepted their drivers are workers and given them the rights to which they are legally entitled.”

Mick Rix, GMB National Officer, said: “Bolt needs to wake up and accept its responsibility to its drivers.