Uber today - RYR/Norwegian tomorrow ?

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 241
Likes: 36
From: southwest
Self employment
https://www.theguardian.com/technolo...mployed-status
How would this effect the likes of Ryanair..........?
How would this effect the likes of Ryanair..........?
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: UK
Beat me to it Willy. The Uber Taxi driver case will have "Far reaching consequences" for those deemed self employed in a number of industries. Got me thinking of Ryanair and others in our profession who employ under this umbrella. Uber now have to pay the minimum wage, holiday pay etc. Interesting.
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 99
Likes: 1
From: Location
hallelujah!
In many countries you can't be self employed if you only have one client and it makes complete sense to me.
BALPA should definitely take the opportunity to clean up the mess, if this can benefit flight instructors, it would be nice as well.
In many countries you can't be self employed if you only have one client and it makes complete sense to me.
BALPA should definitely take the opportunity to clean up the mess, if this can benefit flight instructors, it would be nice as well.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: Hotel Sheets, Downtown Plunketville
Willy, this subject was discussed under another thread. Ryanair`s practices of having crews appointed directors and shareholders of limited liability companies contracted to provide piloting services was debated at length. Here in the UK IR35 has been enshrined in legislation and HMRC is already on the case of the various so called service companies. This sort of tax, NIC and employment burden shedding device became very popular especially with our ever booming construction and haulage industry sectors, where every man and his dog became one man companies and took their money out of the company by way of dividends, with the result that no NIC became payable and if the total taxable income in the tax year remained below the higher rate income band, then there was no income tax also. Just 20 % Corporation tax, and who pays that. So it was a great thing for both the work provider and the worker and an easy money machine for the bean counting industry.
For quite some time successive governments concerned with employment/ unemployment stats avoided the thorny issue of challenging these arrangements. It would seem there is now a change in the weather and the tax collectors are being let loose to go after all those employers and workers who subscribe to such arrangements.
Then there was once the hairdressers chair persons. These were in the main gals who rented a chair in the salon and thus were self employed. This may still remain a sound arrangement, who knows, maybe even Ryanair might take a leaf out of the salon`s appointment book and rent the two seats up at the sharp end to Captain and FO and the fold up ones in the back to the cabin crew.
For quite some time successive governments concerned with employment/ unemployment stats avoided the thorny issue of challenging these arrangements. It would seem there is now a change in the weather and the tax collectors are being let loose to go after all those employers and workers who subscribe to such arrangements.
Then there was once the hairdressers chair persons. These were in the main gals who rented a chair in the salon and thus were self employed. This may still remain a sound arrangement, who knows, maybe even Ryanair might take a leaf out of the salon`s appointment book and rent the two seats up at the sharp end to Captain and FO and the fold up ones in the back to the cabin crew.
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Earth
I was just looking at the how the American IRS determines if you are in fact an employee versus an independent contractor. Among the factors listed that would lead to the determination of being an employee and not an independent contractor:
Behavioral Control-
When and where to work (e.g. Monthly Roster)
What work must be performed by a specified person (e.g. Captain, First Officer duties)
Training for the job
Financial-
Reimbursed expenses (e.g. Per Diem)
Exclusive contract (e.g. cannot do work for another company at the same time)
Regular guaranteed pay rate
Type Of Relationship-
Paid vacations
Sick leave
Disability insurance
The contractors work is presented to customers as its own work (e.g. the pilots are Norwegian Air Shuttle pilots)
I know this is based on the American IRS standards, so obviously they do not apply to the UK, but interesting to note that among the many factors listed, several of them would apply to contract pilots.
Behavioral Control-
When and where to work (e.g. Monthly Roster)
What work must be performed by a specified person (e.g. Captain, First Officer duties)
Training for the job
Financial-
Reimbursed expenses (e.g. Per Diem)
Exclusive contract (e.g. cannot do work for another company at the same time)
Regular guaranteed pay rate
Type Of Relationship-
Paid vacations
Sick leave
Disability insurance
The contractors work is presented to customers as its own work (e.g. the pilots are Norwegian Air Shuttle pilots)
I know this is based on the American IRS standards, so obviously they do not apply to the UK, but interesting to note that among the many factors listed, several of them would apply to contract pilots.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...

Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,348
From: Peripatetic
What will be the impact of the UK High Court decision on worker rights in Uber have on the aviation industry ?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empl...ws_and_appeals
The UK tribunal ruling against Uber is unworkable. Here?s why. ? diginomica
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 193
Likes: 1
From: Sand free now
ORAC is quite correct, the Uber hearing was an industrial tribunal and is not setting a precedent. It has however delivered very significant focus on the issue of self employed contracts which by the Inland Revenues definition are clearly not.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 4
From: last time I looked I was still here.
I am sure they would weasel their way out of it by claiming that their staff are employed by ltd companies not 'self employed'
If I was a director of a legitimate Ltd. company I would negotiate my own contracts. I would then set the T's & C's under which I would provide my services. I would then invoice for those services to my customer. I would not let the customer have dictatorial control over my services and remuneration. I would not work for nothing, including unpaid SBY's or positioning costs & time. I would not pay for any customer demanded training and if required to work in customer demanded clothing would expect the customer to provide them. I would not be paid for holiday, except out of profits from my company, but I would decide when I took holidays. I would be able to work for any customer I chose, as & when. If any extra work was involved, such as an extended day I would invoice for that time. There would also be a compensation cancellation clause if I was on site and the work cancelled. Oh, there would be adjusted rates for night & weekend working.
In other words I would control how my Ltd. company functioned and how it charged it multiple customers.
Surely that is how it happens, isn't it?
If I was a director of a legitimate Ltd. company I would negotiate my own contracts. I would then set the T's & C's under which I would provide my services. I would then invoice for those services to my customer. I would not let the customer have dictatorial control over my services and remuneration. I would not work for nothing, including unpaid SBY's or positioning costs & time. I would not pay for any customer demanded training and if required to work in customer demanded clothing would expect the customer to provide them. I would not be paid for holiday, except out of profits from my company, but I would decide when I took holidays. I would be able to work for any customer I chose, as & when. If any extra work was involved, such as an extended day I would invoice for that time. There would also be a compensation cancellation clause if I was on site and the work cancelled. Oh, there would be adjusted rates for night & weekend working.
In other words I would control how my Ltd. company functioned and how it charged it multiple customers.
Surely that is how it happens, isn't it?
Last edited by RAT 5; 1st November 2016 at 08:54.




