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Seattle Passes First Uber Drivers' Union Into Law (thestack.com)
An anonymous reader writes: The city council of Seattle has unanimously voted in favour of a proposal which will require Uber — and driving-related companies which operate on the same principle — to allow its drivers to be represented by a union, the first of its kind in the US. The lead-up to the vote was hallmarked by opposition from Seattle's mayor Ed Murray, and by a publicity campaign from Uber, which opposed the bill. Though the law will allow collective bargaining for drivers which are effectively on zero-hours contracts, any effect it has on current disputes as to whether Uber drivers are employees or contractors will be ambient rather than direct.
I don't see why they would need this.. if the rates you get aren't competitive... why even do it... move on and do something else... it's not like uber is the only option in seatle...
Why would Uber have a problem with allowing its employees to be represented by a union? Doesn't it want to treat its workers well?
Germany is happy with unionisation. Unions act as the negotiator between management and non-management, ensuring that employees have sufficient compensation to maintain an interest in keeping their job, updating their skills often, and keeping as productive as possible. Everybody wins.
under mandatory arbitration in a court of uber they will lose and have to pay ubers fees.
California will pass legislation giving self driving cars the right to form unions. The AI civil rights movements needs to start somewhere.
I'm sure the other taxi services in Seattle are unionized, there is no reason for the Uber taxi service not to have the same.
We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
This unionization effort will prod Uber to switch away from human driven (i.e. unionized) cars ASAP. I guess the unionized folks will be happy until their "jobs" disappear.
can union fix that
As per the a recent ruling by the California labour board
"According to the administrative law judge who heard the first appeal, Uber has sole discretion over fares, and can charge drivers a cancellation fee if they choose not to take a ride, prohibit drivers from picking up passengers not using the app and suspend or deactivate drivers’ accounts. Based on that, “there was in fact an employer/employee relationship”, according to the decision."
Now, if Uber was to forgo their control over fares, ride acceptance, and app usage, then I would agree that they are just a software company providing a means to share your ride.
However, given that they have these powers, yes their is an employer/employee relationship which can be abused, and therefore I see no reason why the employees shouldn't be allowed to organize.
Having said that, if I was an Uber driver, I'm not entirely sure I'd want to be a member of a union. I'm not sure there would be any benefit for me, since being an Uber driver would be a hobby for me and not my primary source of income.
You'll have the same outcome with Uber in Seattle as you have for your Internet access in Seattle. Boneheads will be postings here soon; "I can't get Uber in Seattle..... what's wrong with 'merica??!!1"
Though the law will allow collective bargaining for drivers which are effectively on zero-hours contracts, any effect it has on current disputes as to whether Uber drivers are employees or contractors will be ambient rather than direct.
zero-hours contracts? ambient? whaa?
I don't see why they would need this.. if the rates you get aren't competitive... why even do it... move on and do something else... it's not like uber is the only option in seatle...
It's a fight about who gets to abuse whom. Ideally workers have enough bargaining power to prevent too much abuse from employers while employers have enough bargaining power to remain competitive and profitable while getting the job done they need done. The result is then that the employer continues to provide the service and profits, while the employees continue to provide their service and profit.
The problem is when either side gets too much power, the other side will get abused. For example, the UPS guy who throws packages all the time and can't be removed, the teacher who is totally incompetent but can't be fired, the teacher who can't drill a hole in his own desk or install a bookshelf in his office without having a union go apeshit all over his school. For example, the employer who will fire you if take a holiday, who provides only the salary for an IC and no benefits when you're clearly an employee, or who promises retirement at thirty years and then makes up a reason to fire you at twenty-nine years eleven months.
Guilds can be great, but can also close ranks around people who shouldn't be protected or prevent others from competing. Employers can be great, but can also do really evil things in the name of shareholders.
If Uber was like eBay, you'd have to negotiate the price with the driver *and pay him* before he evens show up. And then he just doesn't show up at all. So you call Uber and they promise to start an investigation, but do nothing. In the end, 6 months later, you get your money back, but you're still stranded on the street corner.
And for the Uber drivers, they'd experience getting a call to pick up someone. The driver and client are in Seattle. However, when the client, who has already negotiated a price with the driver actually gets into the car, he insists on being driven to Romania. And he'll give you negative feedback if you don't immediately do this.
And that's why Uber is not run like eBay.
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
But....NOT every job has to be one with a living wage, that's the problem here. Some jobs are meant to be starter jobs
Also don't forget about "filler" jobs, which are ones that help supplement a small income (like social security or disability). Those jobs are important too, and equally being culled by the onslaught of a higher minimum wage.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
ebay sellers have a lot more control. They are like flea markets that are a few rules (no where near uber) and they change fees for the space. The sellers have full control over pricing and can't be told stuff like no tips.
I don't understand this. What is stopping any group of people from forming a "union" for any purpose? Why do they need permission from the government?
I am not a fan of workers' unions as we typically understand them, but I would never deny them the right to act collectively.
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