Slashdot Mirror
Uber Drivers Deemed To Be Employees By Swiss Insurance Provider (techcrunch.com)
An anonymous shares a TechCrunch article: Uber has suffered another setback to its operational model in Europe after a Swiss insurance agency ruled that Uber drivers are employees, not freelance contractors as the company claims -- meaning it must pay social security contributions. This follows a similar ruling by a UK employment tribunal in October which found that the two Uber drivers bringing the claim were employed as workers by Uber, rather than being freelance contractors. Swiss broadcaster SRF says the Suva agency made its decision on the status of Uber drivers in the market on account of their inability to set price or payment type, and because they are threatened with consequences from Uber if they do not fulfill its requirements. The Suva described its decision on the classification as a "clear conclusion." The public sector insurer is involved in determining whether workers are freelance or not as a provider of compulsory on-the-job accident insurance which is required for certain high risk professions.
I can choose not to work for Uber and I can choose not to use Uber. I do both of these things already, but I can't choose not to obey government regulations without becoming a victim of government violence and coercion. I'm tired of the nanny state and I've been living in one my entire life (I'm 32). If a competitor comes along that does things better I might consider utilizing it / doing a little driving. However the best competitor to Uber is Cell 411 and I dislike it because they refuse to open up and release a complete set of source code. I don't wish to become more of a victim of corporate abuse of my liberties than I already am. I prefer to remain in control of my devices to the maximum extent remotely feasible.
I want to get rid of drivers licenses, license plates, and the state police. We don't need these things and could implement better solutions to security and vehicular theft and eliminate the constant privacy invasive tracking we have now. Cell 411 already works as a solution to security to a great degree by enabling you to call on friends, family, and nearby good samaritans for help and there is also private patrolling going on in places like Detroit where government has failed. Much of what the government does is little more than theft. I would rather have some risk in life than have my liberties violated by government. If we eliminate government, taxes, and a majority of the regulations we can get some competition in the areas of security and social welfare.
I moved to New Hampshire where they don't mandate seat belts nor car insurance. I do wear my seat belt and I do have car insurance, but the government shouldn't be mandating it. It's one of the most cost effective places to buy car insurance and more people have it as a result relative other states which mandate it explicitly because government has stayed out. If government would stay out of regulations we'd have more competition and more options. The reason we end up with more and more regulations is because government buys into corporations which want to hinder competition and profit. It's not for the sake of safety that we have these laws. It's a long long history of deception by corporations looking to make a buck off selling us the idea we'll be safer if only we buy product X. Whether it's drivers licenses, license plates, car insurance, or the police, somebody is making a buck and there is a dishonest group behind it spreading fear about what would happen if we didn't have these government mandated things.
If you'd rather have a little liberty at the cost of security theatre check out the Shire Society and the Free State Project which is working to make New Hampshire even freer via a migration of liberty minded persons. We've hit 20,000 and are having a real political impact on the state with some of the first libertarians elected anywhere at all levels of government.
Check out http://www.shiresociety.com/ and http://www.freestateproject.org/ and http://www.freekeene.com/