Uber driver says rideshare app tells workers to flout road rules as bill introduced
Uber driver Bana claims the app has often directed him to park in bus zones or stop in no-stopping zones. (Supplied)
In short:
A proposed NSW bill requiring employers to ensure their digital work systems do not lead to unsafe work practices will also allow unions to access the data.
A Sydney Uber driver says the app has often directed him to undertake illegal practices.
Uber says they work closely with drivers, and through their feedback tools are continually improving the accuracy of navigation.
Uber algorithms are directing drivers to break road rules in order to pick up passengers faster, drivers and unions have alleged.
Rideshare driver Bana, who drives in Sydney, has spoken out against the rideshare company as part of a union campaign to pass new laws in NSW, which would allow unions access to tightly held algorithms used by companies such as Uber and Amazon.
Bana, who asked to only be identified by his first name, said in a recent 10-hour overnight driving shift, the Uber app directed him multiple times to pick up passengers at the spot they requested, even if it was illegal.
"It told me to stop in a no-stopping zone," he said.
"It told me to park in a bus zone in Park Street [Sydney CBD] and wait for a passenger. It told me to do U-turns at traffic lights.
"If it was a Sydney driver, he'd be on the news for the amount of illegal actions he's done."
A Sydney Uber driver says the app directed him "to stop in a no-stopping zone". (ABC Far North: Phil Brandel)
Drivers who do not pick up passengers where they are requested may have the trip cancelled for taking too long or being hard to find, which can result in a low star rating, risking app deactivation.
Part-time rideshare driver and Transport Workers Union (TWU) delegate Jay Young said the rideshare company's algorithms were a mystery to drivers, and created stress and anxiety.
He said the more often drivers declined trips they did not believe were worth it, the less access to trip information they were given.
"Without an acceptance rate over 85 per cent on Uber, you can't see the direction or the duration of the trip," he said.
"You're driving blind."
In response to questions from the ABC, a spokeswoman for Uber said as a result of feedback from drivers, it now has a real-time reporting feature for drivers to flag unsafe pick-up areas and closed roads.
"We work closely with driver partners through advisory forums and in-app feedback tools to continually improve the accuracy of navigation so they can operate safely and with confidence," the spokeswoman said.
Unions to be granted algorithm access under proposed laws
The NSW government has introduced legislation that would require employers to ensure their algorithms and automation practises do not risk a worker's health and safety.
The bill would also give delegates at unions such as the TWU and Shop Distributors Union (SDU) the ability to crack open algorithms that dictate how employees operate.
Employers would have to grant "reasonable assistance to access and inspect" their digital systems if it was relevant to a "suspected contravention", in the same way union delegates are already allowed to enter businesses where there are workplace health and safety concerns.
The SDU said algorithms that dictated how distribution centre workers operated were creating unrealistic timeframes to get a job done.
"You'll have workers working to an algorithm, a bit like Pavlov's dog," SDU state secretary Bernie Smith said.
"It'll be binging as they go, and if they don't keep up, then they have consequences to follow."
Laws will 'stifle industry and innovation'
A coalition of peak industry bodies representing employers across the country has written to the NSW Workplace Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis expressing alarm at the bill, which it said represents a "major departure" from national laws.
Employer groups, including the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Industry Group, said the laws would give unprecedented access to business data and "raises substantial concerns about privacy, cybersecurity and the protection of worker and customer data."
Sophie Cotsis calls on employers to support the bill. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
Ms Cotsis said the bill was borne out of recommendations made by a number of parliamentary inquiries into worker safety, and called on employers to accept the bill.
"We're seeing a high number of psychological injury claims because of these type of systems and algorithms," she said.
"If they've got nothing to worry about, they should be supporting it."
Uber has also accused the state government of failing to consult business before introducing the bill.
A spokesman for the Tech Council of Australia said the bill would "stifle industry and innovation".
"It could impact any and all New South Wales businesses that are using an online platform, automation, an algorithm or artificial intelligence to allocate work, including rostering and team resourcing," the spokesman said.
The bill has not yet passed parliament and will be debated in the new year.