Seattle rules Uber, Lyft drivers can unionize

Thankfully, horror stories like Gobena’s soon could become a thing of the past.

“We believe the proposed ordinance threatens the privacy of drivers, imposes substantial costs on passengers and the city, and conflicts with longstanding federal law”, Lyft spokeswoman Chelsea Wilson said in a statement.

Gobena on Monday called the legislation a victory. “But they treat us a little better than slaves”, former Uber driver Yedidya Seifu told KING 5.

Uber drivers in Seattle can now form unions after a Seattle City council decision.

“The intent of this legislation is to create an environment where innovation can continue to happen, but not at the expense of the workers”, said Councilmember Mike O’Brien, who spearheaded the proposal.

But the mayor also notes that while he will not sign the ordinance, that will not prevent the bill from becoming Seattle law.

“Most notably, City costs of administering the collective bargaining process remain unknown and the Council has placed the burden on significant rule-making on City staff”, he wrote to the council in a letter obtained by Business Insider. Then a non-profit organization would step in to be a bargaining representative for the drivers with the city.

Should a union be established amongst drivers for the transportation network companies, it will extend collective bargaining rights to hundreds of drivers similar to what taxi and for-hire transportation companies now offer.

Saad Melouchi, who drives for Uber, burst into cheers and hugged others outside City Council chambers after the vote.

Uber says drivers have flexibility in deciding when they work and how many hours, and many chose to drive to supplement their income. Uber, now valued around .5 billion, could take a major hit if its drivers team up together and push for bigger paychecks. The law underscores much larger questions about the modern workforce – questions like who works for whom, and how independent are independent contractors.

City officials, citing Federal Bureau of Investigation reports and other studies, say that fingerprint-based checks are more than 99 percent effective in linking potential drivers with an accurate accounting of their criminal history. The second price cut was later reversed. The company has been advertising heavily in local media, as well.

The Seattle City Council will vote on the legislation after hearing testimonies from drivers and other parties.

Seattle doesn’t think so. “They see that ‘Yeah, I love using it, but every time I use it, I feel guilty, ‘” O’Brien said.

Companies such as Uber say their drivers are independent contractors and do not pay for their health benefits, fuel or vehicle upkeep.