NewsOne Featured Video CLOSE Correction, July 25, 2018, 10:32 a.m. EDT: A previous version of this article erroneously said Black London drivers were weighing a lawsuit against Uber over lost earnings. It is actually drivers of cabs, historically painted the color Black, that are considering a lawsuit. As Black people confront racism across the world, some are also are calling out Uber for unfair treatment. Several drivers in London are considering a lawsuit against the ride-sharing company over alleged misconduct. RELATED: So Sunken: Uber Faces More Complaints As Executive Quits After Alleged Discrimination Uber has had a complicated relationship with both African-Americans employees and customers who have launched several complaints in recent months. Liane Hornsey resigned as Uber’s chief people officer earlier this month after several workers of color accused her of racial discrimination. She was alleged to have threatened another employee as well as used derogatory language. Elaine Welteroth, former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief, was confronted by one Uber driver who called the police on her after taking her to the wrong destination in Brooklyn, New York City, earlier this month. Additionally, the company has faced numerous gender discrimination and harassment complaints as well. Uber hasn’t been winning any points overseas, either. Black-cab drivers were looking to sue the company for more than 1 billion euros, which is estimated to be upwards of 1,350,000,000 in U.S. dollars. The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) was expected to argue that 25,000 cab drivers lost earnings of 10,000 British pounds each year (nearly an estimated $14,000 in the U.S.) during the first five years that Uber operated in London, the Guardian reported. Uber had been approved for a 15-month license to offer ride shares in London in June after being initially turned down last September. About 3.6 million people regularly use Uber in London, where it has 45,000 registered drivers, the company reported. “We’ve been approached by a number of members to help them explore whether there would be grounds for a potential class action on behalf of all taxi drivers against Uber,” Steve McNamara, the general secretary of the LTDA, said. “We are in the very early stages of obtaining legal advice from leading law firm Mishcon de Reya on whether this is a possibility. We’ll continue to do everything we can to support our members and taxi drivers across London by exploring every avenue to ensure they are treated fairly.” SEE ALSO: Report: Identity Of White Woman Who Called The Cops On Black People At A BBQ Has Been Revealed 7 Colonizers Who Got Their A**es Handed To Them For Trying To Police Black And Brown Folks<doc-sep>London's black cab drivers are planning to sue Uber for years of lost earnings just weeks after the ride-hailing giant won an extension to its license to continue operating in the capital. In what could be a pivotal legal claim, the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association is drawing up plans to sue the taxi-hailing app, claiming that each driver has lost at least £10,000 over the last five years due to the manner in which Uber has operated. Uber arrived in London, its biggest European market, in 2012 and has faced fierce opposition from black cab drivers ever since. Black cab drivers are self-employed, which means they can keep all the money they earn. Uber, meanwhile, takes up to 25 percent of every fare. Many black cab drivers are outraged at how little Uber pays its drivers. They are also quick to highlight Uber’s other failings, including allegations of sexual assault and a lack of safety regulations. However, their principal concern has been the loss of earnings. Uber significantly undercuts traditional taxi drivers and its cars are often quicker to book and more readily available. If the 11,000 members of the LTDA are successful in their claim, it could open the door for all 25,000 taxi drivers to take legal action, potentially amounting to £1.25bn bill, Sky News reported.<doc-sep>London's army of black cab drivers are drawing up a stunning plot to sue Uber for more than £1bn - weeks after the ride-hailing app won a 15-month extension to its licence to operate in the capital. Sky News has learnt that the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA), which has 11,000 members in London, has engaged the leading law firm Mishcon de Reya to explore the potential for a massive legal claim against Uber. Sources said on Tuesday that if the case proceeded, the LTDA was expected to argue that all 25,000 black cab drivers in London had suffered lost earnings averaging around £10,000 for at least five years as a consequence of failings in the way Uber had operated. At that level, the overall compensation bill could total £1.25bn. People close to the situation cautioned that the LTDA could decide against proceeding with a formal claim and that there was no certainty that one would succeed. Advertisement The prospective legal action follows a decision last month by Westminster Magistrates' Court to overturn a ban on Uber imposed by Transport for London late last year. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, had argued that Uber was not "a fit and proper" holder of such a licence amid flaws in the way it conducted background checks on drivers and reported suspected offences by them to the police. Since then, Uber has made wholesale changes to the way its business in London is run, including proactively reporting driver offences. It has also appointed a slate of independent directors in an attempt to improve corporate governance. If it proceeds, the LTDA's legal claim would be the most stunning salvo to date in a protracted battle between black cab drivers and Uber - two sides of an industry which reflect the ways in which technology is disrupting some of the world's most entrenched workforces. Image: London black cabs clog up Whitehall during a protest against Uber Sources said the LTDA was in initial talks with potential funders of its claim, including Harbour Litigation Funding, which describes itself as the UK's largest provider of financing for legal cases. Other firms are also understood to be holding talks with the LTDA, with the eventual funder receiving a slice of any compensation awarded. In a statement issued in response to an enquiry from Sky News, Steve McNamara, general secretary of the LTDA, said: "We've been approached by a number of members to help them explore whether there would be grounds for a potential class action on behalf of all taxi drivers against Uber. "We are in the very early stages of obtaining legal advice from leading law firm Mishcon de Reya on whether this is a possibility. "We'll continue to do everything we can to support our members and taxi drivers across London by exploring every avenue to ensure they are treated fairly." Responding to last month's decision to extend Uber's London licence, Mr McNamara said the company's appeal had exposed its "blatant disregard for TfL's regulations and public safety". He added: "When TfL's lawyers grilled Uber on its handling of the 2016 data breach and its shocking failure to report sexual assaults to the police, Uber just blamed its tainted past on its former leadership. "The justice system has failed Londoners today and let an aggressive multinational corporation win. "Uber is not a fit and proper operator and the LTDA will be consulting its lawyers as to how we can hold it to account and keep streets safe for Londoners". The continued ability to operate in London, one of its biggest global markets, was seen as vital for Uber as it proceeds towards an initial public offering of its shares in New York sometime next year. Uber was understood to be unaware of the LTDA's prospective legal claim until the company was approached by Sky News on Tuesday morning. The ride-hailing app is used by more than 3.5 million Londoners, with 45,000 self-employed drivers working for the company. Like Deliveroo, Uber has found itself at the centre of a political firestorm over its treatment of its workforce amid calls for tougher regulation of the so-called "gig economy". When Uber was stripped of its licence, pending the subsequent appeal, the QC hired by the company to fight the ban said: "We accept TfL's decision in September was the right decision based on evidence at the time. "TfL had considerable concerns about [Uber's] fitness that warranted its refusal to renew. "[This has] led to wholesale change." Tom Elvidge, the general manager of Uber UK, said after the successful appeal: "We are pleased with today's decision. "We will continue to work with TfL to address their concerns and earn their trust, while providing the best possible service for our customers."<doc-sep>Gain a global perspective on the US and go beyond with curated news and analysis from 600 journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more.<doc-sep>
London black cabs vs Uber: Drivers plan to sue over lost earnings Watch Now London black cabbies are not taking Uber's extended license quietly and are reportedly planning to sue the ride-hailing firm. Uber has found itself at the heart of many a controversy, as well as a battle between traditional taxi services and more modern, mobile ride-hailing systems. See also: Uber sells Southeast Asia business to Grab Whether or not you consider the business model dubious, Uber -- alongside rivals such as Lyft -- have become popular enough alternatives to traditional cabs to spread worldwide. However, some traditional firms, which have seen profits slump as Uber invades their working territories, are fighting back. London is one such area for combat. In 2017, Uber lost its license to operate in the city. The Transport for London (TfL) transport authority said that Uber was not "fit and proper" to operate a carriage service in the city and should not be issued a private hire operator license, a basic requirement for chauffeurs, taxi services, and private hire in the city. TechRepublic: New Uber initiative may make it easier for seniors to access healthcare Uber agreed that it had not met the standards required by London officials, such as strict background checks for drivers, apologized, and has now been granted a 15-month license to continue operating -- as long as the company agrees to strict conditions. The ride-hailing firm is likely celebrating the reprieve, but London black cabbies are not pleased. According to Sky News, taxi drivers in the capital are exploring the possibility of a class-action lawsuit which could demand compensation of up to $1.25 billion. The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA), catering for over 25,000 members in London, is reportedly working with law firm Mishcon de Reya to draw up a plan of action. The lawsuit, should it proceed, is expected to draw on at least the past failings in the way Uber operates. LTDA could argue for lost earnings on behalf of its members, which could equate to £10,000 each over the course of five years. There is no certainty that such a lawsuit will go ahead, but the overturned ban may prove to be a catalyst for black cab drivers that wish to be heard. Speaking to Sky News, Steve McNamara, general secretary of the LTDA said, "We've been approached by a number of members to help them explore whether there would be grounds for a potential class action on behalf of all taxi drivers against Uber." "We are in the very early stages of obtaining legal advice from leading law firm Mishcon de Reya on whether this is a possibility," McNamara added. CNET: Uber driver suspended after live-streaming passengers on Twitch ZDNet has reached out to Uber and will update if we hear back. Previous and related coverage