Major Defeat For Uber, Lyft As Seattle Approves Driver Unions

Uber says drivers have flexibility in deciding when they work and how many hours, and many chose to drive to supplement their income.

The bill, co-sponsored by Seattle council members Mike O’Brien and Nick Licata, will allow drivers for ride-hailing companies, as well as taxis and other for-hire vehicles, to collectively bargain for things like higher pay and better working conditions.

The vote is certainly a victory for Seattle’s App-Based Drivers Association (ABDA) who worked side-by-side with the local Teamsters union for the legislation’s approval.

However, Uber, Lyft and others argue that federal labour law prohibits cities from regulating collective bargaining.

“I remain concerned that this ordinance, as passed by the Council, includes several flaws, especially related to the relatively unknown costs of administering the collective bargaining process and the burden of significant rulemaking the Council has placed on City staff”, he said in a statement.

Mayor Ed Murray says he will not sign the bill because of the potential cost to the city, but he won’t veto it so the measure will become law without his signature.

Supporters of the bill gathered at Seattle’s City Hall to urge councilmembers to vote on a bill that would allow them to unionize.

Opponents say the measure will costly and hard for Seattle to carry out.

“When we started they told us we are partners”, said Fasil Teka, who drives for Uber. This case could affect Uber’s case in its class-action lawsuit brought against it by drivers who sought to be recognized as employees and have sought reimbursement for expenses.

The city council vote will take place during a meeting that begins at 2 p.m. PT.

Drivers for ride-hailing services have been trying to organize for some time, but have been limited.

Such power has never been granted to contract workers, however, because there is no provision for independent contractors under the federal Labor Relations Act, a law that provides protections for employees in many labor sectors, though not all.

Uber drivers will be able to unionize in Seattle.

Michael Palmer, 55, who has been driving for Uber for 1 ½ years, said he’s divided.

Other drivers have sued Uber for misclassifying them as contractors. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.

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