{"id":44115,"date":"2017-09-23T06:16:29","date_gmt":"2017-09-23T06:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=44115"},"modified":"2017-09-23T06:16:29","modified_gmt":"2017-09-23T06:16:29","slug":"unfit-uber-stripped-london-license-ceo-tweets-pls-work-wus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/business\/unfit-uber-stripped-london-license-ceo-tweets-pls-work-wus.html","title":{"rendered":"Unfit Uber stripped of London license CEO tweets pls work w\/us"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unfit Uber stripped of London license CEO tweets pls work w\/us<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Unfit Uber stripped of London license CEO tweets pls work w\/us:\u00a0London deemed Uber unfit to run a taxi service on Friday and stripped it of its license to operate from the end of next week in a major blow to the U.S. firm and 3.5 million users in one of the world\u2019s wealthiest cities.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a break with the startup\u2019s usual combative tone, Uber\u2019s new Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi asked London to please work with the ride service. He told employees the company needed to act with integrity but that he did not believe Uber had done everything it was accused of in London.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uber [UBER.UL], which has 40,000 drivers working in the capital, also said it would contest the decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

The British capital\u2019s transport regulator said the Silicon Valley technology giant\u2019s approach and conduct was not fit and proper to hold a private vehicle hire license and it would not be renewed when it expires on Sept. 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regulator Transport for London (TfL) said it would let Uber operate until the appeals process is exhausted, which could take months.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUber\u2019s approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications,\u201d TfL said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifically, TfL cited Uber\u2019s approach to reporting serious criminal offences, background checks on drivers and software called Greyball that could be used to block regulators from gaining full access to the app.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uber London General Manager Tom Elvidge responded that the mayor, who supported the decision, and regulators had \u201ccaved in\u201d to people who want to restrict consumer choice. He added that Uber would \u201cimmediately challenge\u201d the decision in court.<\/span><\/p>\n

Khosrowshahi, brought in to steer the company after a string of scandals involving allegations of sexism and bullying, later appealed to the city on Twitter with a self-deprecating style.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear London: we r far from perfect but we have 40k licensed drivers and 3.5mm Londoners depending on us. Pls work w\/us to make things right,\u201d Khosrowshahi wrote in a tweet.<\/span><\/p>\n

He also acknowledged the company\u2019s turmoil in a message to employees seen by Reuters. \u201cIt\u2019s worth examining how we got here. The truth is that there is a high cost to a bad reputation,\u201d he said. \u201cIt really matters what people think of us,\u201d he added, and \u201cactions in one part of the world can have serious consequences in another.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Many riders rallied to the company\u2019s aid. Uber has turned to customers to help defend itself in other battles around the world, and an online petition in support of Uber had gathered more than 400,000 signatures by late evening in London.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018SAFETY THREAT\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The loss of the San Francisco-based start-up\u2019s license comes after a tumultuous few months that led to former CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick being forced out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uber, which is valued at about $70 billion and whose investors include Goldman Sachs, has faced protests around the world for shaking up long-established taxi markets.<\/span><\/p>\n

The taxi app has also been forced to quit several countries, including Denmark and Hungary, and faced regulatory battles in multiple U.S. states and around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

The company\u2019s UberX offers rides in London by individuals with licenses issued by TfL, often in drivers\u2019 personal cars.<\/span><\/p>\n

London\u2019s traditional black cab drivers have attacked Uber, saying it has undercut safety rules and threatened their livelihoods. Uber has been criticized by unions and lawmakers too and been embroiled in legal battles over workers\u2019 rights.<\/span><\/p>\n

London police also complained in a letter in April that Uber was either not disclosing, or taking too long to report, serious crimes including sexual assaults and this put the public at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of the 154 allegations of rape or sexual assault made to police in London between February 2015 and February 2016 in which the suspect was a taxi driver, 32 concerned Uber, according to the capital\u2019s police force.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uber said on Friday its drivers passed the same rigorous checks as black cab drivers, it has always followed TfL\u2019s rules on reporting serious incidents and it had a dedicated team that worked closely with London\u2019s police.<\/span><\/p>\n

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a Labour politician who has criticized Uber in the past, said he backed the decision to reject its application for a new license.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be wrong if TfL continued to license Uber if there is any way that this could pose a threat to Londoners\u2019 safety and security,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drivers of London\u2019s black cabs, who have snarled up the city\u2019s streets in protest at the app over the last few years, welcomed Friday\u2019s decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTheir standards are not up to scratch,\u201d said 71-year-old Walt Burrows, who has driven a black cab for 39 years. \u201cThe black cab is an iconic part of London. What you get with a black cab is a metered fare and you know you\u2019re safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source: http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-uber-britain\/unfit-uber-stripped-of-london-license-ceo-tweets-pls-work-w-us-idUSKCN1BX151<\/span><\/p>\n

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