The Midland Uber Driver Forum claim that the app-booking taxi firm has been reducing passenger fares without referring to them which has triggered their profits to decrease.
They also made claims that self-employed members have encountered suspensions and are penalised if they declined a job, which can be approximately ten miles away.
Up to 1,000 drivers, including some from Sandwell and Solihull are preparating to strike for 24 hours from 6am on Monday, with a protest presented outside Uber’s Newhall Street offices from midday. A Forum Spokesman said: “This action is to highlight the problems drivers are facing.
“Uber started off in Birmingham promising a safe and secure place to work. But with fares dropped and borders opened to all drivers, it has become a free-for-all.
“Uber imposing more and more restrictions upon drivers who are supposedly self-employed places us in a situation where we feel constantly insecure and fearful of deactivation.”
The Forum protests that drivers can lose money if they are taken off the booking system for a short period, if they decline jobs.
The spokesman added: “The fare deductions have forced us to do more fares for less money.
“Uber continue to insist drivers are earning more, but only states gross takings without even basic deductions for insurance, fuel and other running costs.”
However, Fouzan Ali, general manager for Uber Birmingham, said: “We work hard to make sure Uber is an appealing option for drivers who use our app in Birmingham.
“The main reason thousands of professional drivers choose to partner with Uber is so they can become their own boss, pick their own hours and work completely flexibly.
“In fact many partner-drivers have left other lines of work and chosen to partner with Uber for this very reason.”
Uber was launched in Birmingham over a year ago. It is a ride-booking app that permits customers to order a private hire vehicle via smartphone, getting exact details of how long they will have to wait and estimated journey prices.
