As revealed by an investigation by an international consortium of journalists the Uber platform it has broken the law and used brutal practices and pressure groups to assert itself despite resistance from several countries. In France, they show that Emmanuel Macron He threw open the door for her.

the British newspaper Guardian gained access to 124,000 company documents dated between 2013 and 2017. He shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which in turn collaborated with newspapers around the world.

This Sunday, in France, Le Monde and Radio France published the first articles related to ‘uber file’. They reveal the aggressive methods employed by the company to expand into countries such as France or South Africa.

“The company broke the law, tricked the police and the regulator, took advantage of the violence against drivers and exercised covert pressure on governments of the whole world ”, headlines Guardian.

“Violence guarantees success”

In its attempts to ignore transportation laws, Uber spawned violent reactions in several countries. In France, for example, it has resulted in intense conflict between traditional taxi drivers and VTCs.

Instead of looking for a peaceful way, the company took advantage of the tensions convince the French government and the French population. At that time, he organized media campaigns and even demonstrations deteriorate the image of taxis, as explained by a former director of the company.

When Uber’s management became concerned about the risks its drivers might take if they participated in such protests, the then head of the company Travis Kalnick He replied: “I think it’s worth it. Violence guarantees our success ”.

In South Africa, where Uber drivers can be paid for in cash, some of them have been attacked. One passed away in 2017after his vehicle was set on fire

Although the new administration of Uber has reformed some practices, in most of the countries where the drivers have been installed they work in precarious conditionswith low incomes and without the possibility of defending their rights through trade unions.

Macron, a friend

Uber has also often lobbied, often using political pressure groups.

In the “Uber files” stands out the secret card played by then Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron in 2014 and 2015, when the company was expanding.

France was investigating its practices amid protests from taxi drivers, who criticized the Uberpop service for the possibility of doing so turn any vehicle owner into a driverwithout paying the expensive license that taxi drivers require.

Travis Kalanick and his team have visited Macron, then a member of the government of former President François Hollande, on several occasions.

Uber asked the minister to relax the Thévenoud law on the transport sector. I was looking specifically reduce the training period for drivers. Macron was seduced by the company and a decree made it possible to change the law.

In return, France asked Uber to abandon the Uberpop service. The leaked documents show that Macron’s support was not aligned with his government’s left-wing policies, so the Uber file remained with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministries of Transportation or Labor were not mobilized.

more pressure

Uber has also lobbied UK top ministers. Or he went to the Russian oligarchs to enter Russia.

According to The Guardian, Uber’s approach to billionaires and senior executives close to Russian President Vladimir Putin is part of a broader strategy aimed at achieving a prime position in the Russian market and political favors.

This is demonstrated, according to “The Guardian”, by the more than 124,000 leaked documents, among which pages of this strategy developed by Uber stand out. in Russia between 2015 and 2016with which, in addition to pay bribesencouraged the aforementioned oligarchs and leaders invest in the American multinational.

Specifically, the Guardian details the contact with Vladimir Senin – a member of the Duma – hired by Uber to pay “hundreds of thousands of dollars” with the aim of buying influences, a measure that has already generated “alarms” among the US authorities.

Even in the UK

At least six British Conservative ministers they attended secret meetings where they were pushed by Uber lobbyists to gain a foothold in the UK market with ethically questionable and illegal tactics.

Uber internal records leaked by the Guardian reveal the company’s operations in 40 countries, right around the time Uber was still following him Kalanick, who has taken an aggressive stance.

The massive leak of more than 120,000 documents revealed how Uber exploited its drivers, lobbied governments in Europe, and broke laws while expanding its global operations.

In the UK, the documents also showed how the company lobbied key policymakers to support it and ensure UK market access between 2014 and 2016.

Source: agencies and RFI

ap