Samuel Estreicher, professor at New York University School of Law and director of the Center for Labor and Employment Law, thinks the idea of a third category provides some interesting outcomes that few people have considered.
Advertisement
This “innovative policy” may affect the company’s core though.
“This is an opportunity for Seattle to once again play a leading national role in promoting workers’ rights”, it said, in a reference to the northwest USA city’s progressive history. In a statement made after the vote, he voiced some concerns about the “unknown costs of administer the collective bargaining process and other burdens the ordinance will place on city staff members”. Seattle is the first city in the nation to greenlight this labor tactic for drivers. As this ordinance takes effect, my administration will begin its work to determine what it will take to implement the law. “I firmly believe that this legislation is a great step in that direction”. “I look forward to working with councilmembers in 2016 on their ordinance”. Then a nonprofit organization – most likely a union – would use the list to contact the drivers. The company says the number of drivers in Seattle constitutes a trade secret.
Following the vote, a large crowd of the bill’s supporters that had come to the council meeting broke out in cheers and chants.
This means drivers will be able negotiate their salaries and working conditions as a unit. A union will have to prove to a majority of drivers that it can help them make a better living than they could negotiating on their own with the company. The plaintiffs named in the suit say they are Uber employees, not independent contractors, and have been shortchanged on expenses and tips.
However, this legislation, first introduced by Councilmember Mike O’Brien, creates a way for drivers to gain benefits typically given to employees.
Yet Seattle Mayor Ed Murray does not support the bill, which does not require this signature.
“We have to organize a strategy now and make sure all the drivers are on the same page”, Lemoochi said. He also said that it is unclear in the bill how it will be determined who is a “qualified driver” for the union. David Plouffe, a former political strategist for President Obama now serving as Uber’s chief adviser, visited Seattle earlier this month to promote the company and criticize the ordinance. The records were to be released Monday. “They feel so bad”, Takele Gobena, a pro-union Uber driver, told The Seattle Times.
Advertisement
The law passed Monday gives them the right to vote to collectively bargain through a non-profit.
