Uber’s Sydney drivers ordered not to discriminate following French sacking

CAB service Uber has said it will “take measures” against any Sydney drivers found to be homophobic following the sacking of one of the company’s representatives in France recently.

Uber, a US-based technology company, produces an app that enables customers to order and see a price in advance for their journey before ordering a nearby cab.

However, the ordering process didn’t go quite that smoothly recently in Paris when two men were allegedly refused a ride because the cab driver assumed they were gay.

According to The Local, after determining the men had come from a gay bar, he refused to honour the pick up and left allegedly saying: “I don’t take gays”.

Going back onto Uber, the two men ordered another cab only to come face-to-face with the same driver.

Reportedly fearing for their safety, the two men headed back into the club and took to Twitter to inform the company of their ordeal: “@Uber_Paris thank you to our driver… who refused our trip because it wasn’t up to his taste.”

Shortly afterwards, Uber’s Paris office announced the driver’s suspension.

Talking to the Star Observer, James Cox of Uber’s Sydney support office, said the company’s local drivers had “instructions to accept all passengers and not discriminate in any way”.

“We have a very clear policy regarding this and would take measures against any drivers if they were to be found in violation to this policy,” he said.

Cox said any homophobic incidences would likely be discovered via feedback from passengers.

“Uber works closely with the [LGBTI] community on a range of projects and is supportive not discriminatory of the community,” Cox said.

The company is a partner of the upcoming cabaret festival organised by Sydney gay venue, Slide.

No stranger to controversy, Uber’s new method of connecting customers and cabs is causing waves in the Sydney and Melbourne taxi industries.

Drivers taking part in the Uber X service — which allows customers to order rides from the general public rather than licensed taxi drivers — were this recently fined $1700 each by Victoria’s Taxi Services Commission .

NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian has also said Uber’s ride-sharing service was operating within a legal “grey area”, according to Fairfax reports, and the government was investigating.