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Seattle Passes First Uber Drivers' Union Into Law (thestack.com)

Posted by timothy on from the you-bargain-we'll-collect dept.

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.

6 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. is ebay sellers union next??? by rbgnr111 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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...

    1. Re:is ebay sellers union next??? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Indeed there is no long, glorious history of corporations abusing employees, leading to the employee protection laws we have now. That never happened, so I don't see any reason why we should make sure those protections are retained in any way whatsoever.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    2. Re:is ebay sellers union next??? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Unions were very good at one point in history when corporations were actually abusing their employees. Now that there are ample laws in place protecting employees, unions have become less necessary.

      Except now companies like Uber are finding inventive ways to not call employees employees. That means they have none of the protections any more, since they're not employees. And so the union has a use again.

      until it becomes financially irresponsible to the shareholders to continue to pay those rates, when they know that there are cheaper workers who will do the job in other countries.

      Good luck outsourcing taxi drivers to another country.

      Also "finanance" doesn't excuse unethically not paying a living wage and etc. Being a dick for money doesn't make you less of a dick. Working in a company does not magically grant you some sort of ethical bypass. If you're happy to do so then you should declare "yes I am happy to screw over my fellow man for money". Don't try to hide behind "finance".

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    3. Re:is ebay sellers union next??? by CastrTroy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Uber is very interested in self driving cars. They know what the end game is. Having human drivers is just a stop gap step in getting their foot in the door in the taxi industry. The same way that Netflix used DVD delivery by mail to jump start their online streaming services, Uber is definitely thinking about the next step that they are going to be taking.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    4. Re:is ebay sellers union next??? by DRJlaw · · Score: 4, Insightful

      **Ultimately, Uber isn't take advantage of the drivers, riders are.**

      The riders don't specify either the terms and conditions or the price. Uber does. Given that, how you rationalize shifting all the responsibility from Uber to the riders escapes me...

    5. Re:is ebay sellers union next??? by sinij · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "if you don't make enough money driving for Uber then DON'T drive for them and find a new "job". "

      How did this get upvoted? This is rehashing of "if you have nothing to hide" fallacy.

      To address this directly. Finding a new job may impose undue hardship. Imagine if you had to put up with an abusive boss at work, and instead of being sympathetic I tell you to find a new job. Maybe you are nearing retirement age Turbo Pascal programmer and this is not really an option.

      Some people.