To Get the Legislation It Wants, Uber Is Enlisting Unions in a Charm Offensive
Both Uber and a Teamsters local are backing a new Washington State bill that would give rideshare drivers new benefits — while codifying their status as independent contractors rather than employees.
Pending legislation in Washington State would give rideshare company drivers new benefits in exchange for codifying their status as independent contractors rather than employees and preempting cities from regulating rideshare companies. (Elvert Barnes / Flickr)
Uber’s lobbyists, after clinching an agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada to launch a charm offensive at the Ontario provincial government for employee-like benefits on behalf of an estimated 100,00 drivers, weren’t done hobnobbing with unions.
Next up, the Teamsters in Washington State are working on a deal with Uber and Lyft.
The legislation would give ride-hail workers new benefits — sick pay, a process to appeal deactivations, protections against retaliation, and workers’ compensation — in exchange for codifying their status as independent contractors rather than employees, and preempting cities from regulating the rideshare companies as Seattle has done.
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