Addison Lee drivers plan protest in Mayfair over pay cuts

Hundreds of drivers working for minicab giant Addison Lee plan to gridlock streets around Mayfair’s Berkeley Square tomorrow in protest at new pay rates.

They aim to bring traffic to a standstill outside the offices of the Carlyle Group, which bought Addison Lee for £300 million in 2013.

The GMB union claims fare cuts to compete with Uber mean some drivers’ earnings have plunged to as low as £4.99 an hour.

But the firm says average pay has risen.

A spokesman said: "The GMB does not speak for the vast majority of Addison Lee drivers. Addison Lee drivers – like most in the private hire industry – work on a self-employed basis and decide their own hours."

It comes days after rival app Karhoo was launched to rival Uber by allowing users to book from different minicab firms with no 'surge' fares.