Background on UNTA and its Relevance
The Unión Nacional de Trabajadores por Aplicación (UNTA) is a significant labor union representing workers in the digital platform sector, including those employed by Uber. As these platforms continue to reshape the job market and influence workers’ rights, UNTA plays a crucial role in advocating for fair labor practices and conditions.
Uber’s Tariff Increase Announcement
Recently, Uber announced a 7% increase in its tariffs, attributing this rise directly to the labor costs resulting from the implementation of a reform for digital platforms. This move has raised concerns among UNTA, which views it as a deliberate strategy to alarm users and discredit the legislative measure aimed at securing basic rights for platform workers.
Sergio Guerrero’s Statement
Sergio Guerrero, the general secretary of UNTA, denounced Uber’s action as a politically motivated attempt to generate rejection towards legislation that ensures essential labor rights such as social security, vacations, and end-of-year bonuses for riders and drivers.
STPS’s Response
The Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS) condemned Uber’s move, emphasizing that only 15 days had passed since the pilot program began. The STPS highlighted that Uber’s business model directly profits from workers, who bear the costs of necessary tools and equipment for their jobs. The Mexican government, committed to social and labor justice, will not tolerate practices that unfairly transfer costs to workers and consumers under false pretenses.
UNTA’s Stance on Uber’s Actions
Guerrero acknowledged the federal government’s intervention to prevent arbitrary tariff increases and urged extending this firmness to other critical issues in the sector, such as eliminating exclusivity percentages that restrict access to social security and more effective regulation of mobility conditions in states.
Importance of the Digital Platform Labor Reform
UNTA considers the digital platform labor reform a historic step towards dignifying the work of thousands of riders and drivers. The union firmly rejects the notion that multinational corporations use workers and consumers as pawns to safeguard their corporate interests.
UNTA’s Demands from Uber
UNTA calls for transparency and accountability from Uber, urging the company to comply with labor laws. The union also encourages citizens to reflect on these practices and stand in solidarity with the workers who sustain the digital economy through their daily efforts.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is UNTA? The Unión Nacional de Trabajadores por Aplicación (UNTA) is a labor union representing workers in the digital platform sector, including those employed by Uber.
- Why is the digital platform labor reform significant? The reform aims to secure essential labor rights such as social security, vacations, and end-of-year bonuses for riders and drivers working on digital platforms.
- What is UNTA’s response to Uber’s tariff increase? UNTA views Uber’s 7% tariff increase as a politically motivated strategy to discredit the labor reform and alarm users. The union calls for transparency, accountability, and compliance with labor laws from Uber.
- What does the STPS say about Uber’s actions? The Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS) condemned Uber’s move, emphasizing that its business model unfairly profits from workers who bear the costs of necessary tools and equipment for their jobs.
