The introduction of autonomous taxis in the United Kingdom is facing mounting resistance from the GMB union, which represents a large portion of the country’s taxi and private hire drivers. The union is pressing the government to establish a transition fund to support drivers who may lose their livelihoods as driverless vehicles become more widespread.

The GMB estimates that the rollout of autonomous taxis could put more than 300,000 jobs at risk across the UK. At the recent Labour Party conference, Mark Betteridge of the GMB called for a government-backed fund, potentially financed through a levy on technology operators, to help drivers who lose earnings or employment during the transition to driverless services. Speaking alongside Roads Minister Justin Madders, Betteridge emphasized the need for a plan to protect workers from the disruption posed by autonomous vehicles.

Delegates at the GMB conference in Blackpool earlier this year also endorsed calls for legislation aimed at safeguarding taxi drivers. In a letter to members issued last month, the union criticized both Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT) for failing to develop a “just transition” strategy to support drivers, their families, and communities. The GMB has insisted that autonomous vehicle deployment should not proceed without an agreement that addresses the concerns of drivers, along with unresolved deployment and safety issues.

This stance reflects similar labor disputes in the United States, where driverless technology has been adopted more extensively. In cities like Atlanta, unions have reported decreases in driver pay and longer wait times between rides since the introduction of driverless cars. To mitigate these impacts, labor groups there have proposed a “robotaxi impact fee” of 50 to 100 cents per ride, designed to finance retraining and support programs for affected workers.

Efforts by US worker groups to delay or block autonomous vehicle legislation have seen success this year in states including Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. Meanwhile, London has emerged as a leading European city embracing driverless technology, with authorities promoting the innovation as “the future of transport.” Several companies, including Waymo (backed by Google), British start-up Wayve (partnered with Uber), and Chinese firm Baidu, are aiming to operate autonomous taxis in the capital.

Despite this momentum, full regulatory approval for driverless taxis remains pending. Transport for London has yet to release comprehensive guidance outlining how operators can obtain permission to run fully autonomous vehicles, contributing to delays in the technology’s wider deployment. As the debate continues, the government faces growing pressure to balance technological progress with protections for those whose jobs may be displaced.