Dozens of Uber and Lyft drivers gathered at City Hall on Wednesday, calling on city lawmakers to enhance protections for their employment.
The drivers, part of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), urged the NYC Council to adopt Intro. 0276, a proposed bill aimed at preventing rideshare companies from terminating drivers arbitrarily without just cause or recourse.
One of the key provisions of Intro. 0276 is that the burden of proof in cases of driver deactivation would fall on the rideshare companies rather than the drivers.
Additionally, the bill seeks to ensure that ‘high-volume for-hire vehicle services’ cannot deactivate drivers unless there is a just cause or a legitimate economic reason.
Sponsored by Queens City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Intro. 0276 has gained attention against the backdrop of mass account deactivations affecting various app-based workers, including delivery personnel from Grubhub.
“This is about standing up for workers’ rights and ensuring job security for drivers,” said Krishnan during the rally.
He emphasized the need to stop large app companies from dismissing drivers without fair cause or an appeal process.
Krishnan highlighted a recent situation where over 50 Grubhub delivery workers faced sudden account deactivations without prior warning.
“No one should wake up and find their means of income has been cut off without any notification or opportunity to contest it,” he said.
In response to the ongoing protests, a Lyft spokesperson acknowledged the importance of fairness but emphasized the necessity of maintaining safety for both drivers and riders.
“A fair deactivation process is important, but it must not jeopardize the safety of riders on the platform,” the spokesperson stated.
Lyft has implemented initiatives to enhance the deactivation experience for drivers, partnering with the Independent Drivers Guild in New York to provide better information and clearer pathways for drivers in appropriate cases, while ensuring overall safety.
Uber has not yet commented on the issue despite inquiries from amNewYork.
The NYTWA noted that over 200,000 individuals in New York City drive for Uber and Lyft, surpassing employment figures for any other single employer in the city.
Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of NYTWA, underscored the economic contributions of these drivers, stating that their labor generated billions in profits for the rideshare companies.
Despite this, Desai pointed out that drivers are often treated as disposable labor, facing dismissals without warning or proper justification, leaving them without income overnight.
Saif Aizah, a driver and member of NYTWA, shared his personal experience of being abruptly deactivated by Uber due to paperwork issues.
“Since I only drive for Lyft now, my earnings have dropped by more than half,” Aizah revealed.
He expressed the struggles he faces only earning half of what he used to, which makes it difficult to cover essential expenses like rent, car payments, and insurance.
“This financial situation has led to significant stress impacting my mental health—sometimes I can’t even sleep because I’m worried about paying bills,” Aizah lamented.
As it stands, Intro. 0276 is pending review by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the city council before it can be enacted into law.
image source from：amny
