A large group of Uber Eats drivers blocked a road in east London today as they staged a protest over pay.
Protesters said it was a spontaneous show of action against the company, as drivers claimed rates for every delivery had been reduced without it being agreed first.
An Uber Eats spokesman said the firm has made changes to its payment structure in London in response to feedback from couriers.
"As we transition to the new system, we're introducing minimum payment guarantees of £9-11 an hour," the spokesman said.
One driver said on Thursday some are facing a cut from £4.60 a drop to £2.80, which he described as “totally unacceptable”.
He added: “No one has organised this, it’s just a spontaneous show of anger at what is happening.”
The riders protested outside company offices in Aldgate East before going to Trafalgar Square, where they said that police made at least one arrest.
Jacqui Sweeney, 27, from Grays, Essex, was one of the first cars to be blocked by the protest.
"They were holding up signs calling Uber 'fat cats' and through the traffic we could see more motorbikes coming to join them," she said.
"We were talking to some of the protesters and they said they weren't happy with the money they were being paid."
Customers in London were left disappointed this afternoon as some orders were severely delayed or did not turn up.
One wrote: "We orders McDonalds to be delivered by Uber Eats and it never turned up! Tried contacting Uber Eats - almost impossible!
"Our food order was picked up, but Uber driver did not turn up. Not good! Hungry and disappointed."
An Uber Eats spokesman said: "In response to feedback from couriers we've made some changes to our payment structure in London, which brings it into line with other cities.
"The changes will help increase earnings during busy mealtimes and, as we transition to the new system, we're introducing minimum payment guarantees of £9-11 an hour.
"Making improvements in response to courier feedback is a top priority, such as the sickness, injury, maternity and paternity protections we recently introduced. Our door is always open for individual couriers to speak to us about any issues they're having."
Uber Eats has met with hundreds of couriers over the last few months, saying most prefered higher earnings during busy mealtime hours, even if that meant lower earnings during less busy periods.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
