Gatwick taxi drivers strike over Uber 'poaching'

Private hire taxi drivers picketed at Gatwick Airport on Thursday morning

Private-hire taxi drivers staged a protest at Gatwick Airport on Thursday claiming Uber has gained an unfair advantage in the trade.

Unite the Union said taxi drivers in Crawley were losing fares because Uber drivers registered elsewhere would enter the town to "poach" passengers from Gatwick, which members said led to an influx of London-based Uber cars into Crawley.

Uber denied this and said it "abides by the same regulations as all other private hire operators".

Crawley Borough Council said legal advice found no licensing grounds to take enforcement action over Uber's activity at Gatwick.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Gatwick is disgracing itself by partnering with a race-to-the-bottom firm like Uber, which is destroying local livelihoods and damaging Crawley's economy.

"Unite will not rest until Gatwick takes action to address our members' concerns.

"Nor can the government continue to sit on the side lines. Uber's sidestepping of local licensing laws is hurting workers and putting passengers at risk across the country. Ministers need to close the loopholes in the legislation."

The protest marked the start of a new campaign which Unite said aimed to fix the disadvantage it said its members were at.

An Uber spokesperson said: "Uber operates according to the high standards set across the industry and abides by the same regulations as all other private hire operators."

Crawley Borough Council said: "The council investigation sought to determine whether there were any licensing grounds for enforcement relating to Uber's activity at Gatwick.

"Independent legal advice received stated that there were no grounds for enforcement."

The council said it was reported to a meeting of the Licensing Committee on 18 March 2025.

Gatwick has been contacted for comment.