Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36071347)

Serves Uber right. There is a massive Silicon Valley arrogance that laws and taxes apply to other people and not them. They use technologies to centralise as much of the profit as possible to only a few hands whilst destroying countless other companies in their wake. They undercut everyone because they are willing to operate at a loss to dominate the market, they avoid paying tax and they exploit people.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36071322)

I wouldn’t have expected anything else from you, jfman. A complete disregard for those people who have a brain and deliberately choose to earn their living on a flexible basis.

I don’t care what trade unions think. I prefer to listen to what those affected by their decisions think.

I know that is unthinkable to guys like you, who are irreversibly politically indoctrinated. So your reply is already anticipated. And by the way, I disagree. Response unnecessary. Good night.

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36071347)

Serves Uber right. There is a massive Silicon Valley arrogance that laws and taxes apply to other people and not them. They use technologies to centralise as much of the profit as possible to only a few hands whilst destroying countless other companies in their wake. They undercut everyone because they are willing to operate at a loss to dominate the market, they avoid paying tax and they exploit people.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36071349)

This isn't about trade unions, Old Boy. This was a complaint raised by the Uber taxi drivers ie what "...those affected by their decisions think."

It's not beyond Uber to have a flexible working system that complies with the new ruling. Other taxi firms do.

The decision will mean more of a level playing field for small British taxi businesses. That can't be a bad thing and I speak as a pre-lockdown 1 Uber user. Uber brought innovation to the sector with their global app but that innovation can be disentangled from unfair competition and ripping contractors off.

---------- Post added at 10:26 ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 ----------


Just an example really of the way that the law is always a bit behind technology. It catches up in the end.

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36071351)

Fundamentally OB doesn’t want a level playing field for British businesses, or agree with the principle that profits generated as a result of doing business in the UK (something a local taxi company has no option but to do) should be taxed in the UK. He’d much rather see the UK Treasury denied that revenue because it’s a step closer to his wet dream of hollowing out the role and function of the state by denying it tax revenue.

He’d much rather see the money used for better public services in the Netherlands than here, or worse siphoned offshore into a tax haven never to be seen again.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36071353)

I'll try and persuade Old Boy. "Come on Old Boy, let's keep those taxes in the UK and not send them to the EU!"

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36071354)

I'm not aware of the specifics of this case but on some level it's actually a positive that we are outside the EU if we want to take on these "big tech innovators" whose only innovation is to erode employment rights and avoid taxes.

A case like this would almost certainly end up in the European courts tied to cases across Europe and have competing interests making representations.

Now we get to tell them we're Great Britain and to naff off if they want to exploit workers, shift profits to other countries and put British businesses to the sword under the guise of competition.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36071304)

Try telling that to the punters when they see the consequences of this judgement.

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36071348)

Do/have you used their service?

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36071465)

I do but I always tip about £5 ;) Preferably in cash if i have it.

I would prefer if Uber stopped exploiting their drivers instead.

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 36071479)

Remember £5 only gets you a half of shandy in London.

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36071480)

My first weeks wage as an apprentice was £5.

Originally Posted by Mr K (Post 36071481)

That was good money in 1922 ;)

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36071482)

Yea but it wasn't in 1972