<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Exclusive:</span></strong><span> Marcel Black* has seconds to decide if she wants to take a job that could cost her more money than it makes her.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If she doesn't accept the job in time, or at all, she could be penalised.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is how tens of thousands of Australian Uber drivers work and Black, 52, wants to change it.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tropical-cyclone-fina-forms-off-northern-australia/0f75ced2-f1e6-4274-b200-b40b8d939bd0"><strong><span>'Gale force' wind warning as cyclone heads toward Top End</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An executive assistant from Sydney, she started driving for Uber on weekends to keep up with the cost of living.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But she was shocked to discover that Uber drivers aren't given crucial information about a ride – like the fare, pickup or drop-off address – until after they accept it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Uber drivers earn a base fare plus extra cash based on how long and far they drive, minus any service, booking or cancellation fees.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/uber-driver-pay-ride-transparency-petition-exclusive/cd63986a-6e37-4264-82c3-50560343ab85" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Black couldn't believe that she was expected to accept rides with no indication of what she'd be paid for them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ask any contractor in Australia, an electrician, a plumber, they're not going to accept the job without telling you how much they want to be paid," she told 9news.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We just want the same."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All Australian Uber drivers are shown before accepting a ride is:</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><span>the time and distance to the pickup point</span></li><li><span>any surge pricing</span></li><li><span>the rider's rating</span></li><li><span>the type of trip (e.g. UberX, UberXL)</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>9news understands that Australian drivers can also see the upfront fare and pickup and drop off location for Uber Reserve and Intercity trips.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Drivers with Gold, Platinum, or Diamond status in the Uber Pro rewards program may also be able to access the trip's estimated duration and direction (e.g. north, south).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/epstein-files-what-happen-next-when--trump-signs-bill/2d629b08-ecc1-4f05-9cfc-619af9a79c36"><strong><span>What's next once Trump signs bill releasing the Epstein files</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Black said drivers must maintain an acceptance rate of 85 per cent and above to continue to access those details.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That makes cancelling a ride for any reason risky.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If a driver's overall cancellation rate gets too high, Black claimed drivers face warnings, lower fares or deactivation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Uber drivers are also only paid for the ride from the pickup point to the drop-off point, not the distance driven to collect a passenger.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Which means drivers could accept a job kilometres out of their way, not knowing it will only make them a few dollars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"On Saturday, I did a pickup that was 10 kilometres away and it took 1.6 kilometres to get to the drop off the drop off," Black said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So I made an almost 12-kilometre drive for $6 pay ... that's not worth my time."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Not knowing the final destination of a ride before accepting it is also a safety concern for many drivers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/mount-semeru-volcano-erupts-indonesia-flight-disruption-australia/aa8550e5-ccba-46ba-a433-ea620c4da1c2"><strong><span>Flight warning for Australia after massive volcano eruption in Indonesia</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Black feels unsafe in some locations late at night and wishes she could screen rides to avoid having to drop passengers off in those areas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's definitely a safety question for women drivers," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I've had rides where I've been thinking, 'oh my god, I'm gonna die because the place is so dark.'"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's a different story for Australian Uber Eats drivers and millions of Uber drivers overseas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Black previously drove for Uber Eats and said she was able to see how much she'd make from a delivery, as well as the pickup and drop-off address before accepting a job.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And Uber drivers in the US are given a wealth of information before accepting rides.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Screenshots of the app interface show an estimated fare, distance to the pickup location, its street address, the trip distance, length of time, and address of the drop-off location.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All of which is visible to drivers before accepting a ride.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Americans get it, I don't understand why we can't get it," Black said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"All we want to know is how much the fare will be, and the address where we going."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-ordered-to-turn-in-il-duce-licence-plates/1e2ca54d-06e5-4567-8a59-f68e70c4b31f"><strong><span>NSW man ordered to turn in plates featuring dictator's nickname</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She wants to be able to see how much she'll make, as well as the pickup and drop-off locations, prior to accepting a ride on Uber.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But some passengers are opposed to that kind of transparency.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They worry that drivers will disproportionately decline short trips that won't make them much money, or rides that take them out of the way.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Black claimed that Uber agents said similar things when she raised the issue.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The last communication that I got was from one of the agents saying, I'm paraphrasing me here, 'we're not going to change it, because we find it unfair,'" she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Unfair to whom, I don't know."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Uber spokesperson told 9news.com.au that the business regularly engages with driver partners to understand how to better support them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We'll keep listening and evolving the app to help driver partners make informed decisions and have a more reliable experience on the platform," they said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/alleged-car-thief-drops-off-baby-victoria/fe3e53de-41cd-4b15-a18b-c7232d9eee14"><strong><span>Footage catches car thief's reaction on finding sleeping baby</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After raising the issue with Uber, Black started a </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/demand-transparency-from-uber-for-australian-drivers?source_location=search" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Change.org petition"><span>Change.org petition</span></a><span> demanding transparency for Australian Uber drivers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has already attracted more than 1000 signatures.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We fully know that Uber is not going to do this on their own, they're not going to change it just because we want them to," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Black said drivers deserve to know where they're going and what they stand to earn before accepting rides.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She also suggested that if Uber doesn't want drivers to cherry-pick rides that pay well, it should increase driver wages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>*Name changed.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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