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Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

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Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#651

Post by davidf18 »

tfehring wrote: post #559
WrongThinkerNo5 wrote: post #550

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would "black" taxi drivers not pick up "black" passengers? What is your obsession with color coding people? It's unhealthy and racist.

Drivers are more than twice as likely to cancel rides requested by black passengers than rides requested by white passengers. Any such "obsession" in this discussion is a reflection of observed reality, which is clearly not colorblind. https://news.iu.edu/stories/2020/07/iub/releases/22-racial-l...

For privacy reasons best not to use photos.

Also, for these sorts of apps, probably best to choose a plain generic name, e.g, John, Sally and just say it is your middle name and that you go by your middle name.

Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#652

Post by rileymat2 »

cactus2093 wrote: post #434
zjaffee wrote: post #410

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We need to end employer based health insurance, every other major problem is easily solvable within the gig worker framework (you can have people accrue PTO and other standard benefits based on hours worked).

Strongly agree. I'll never understand the argument of forcing people to give up the benefits they already have as gig-economy workers and become full-time employees. Despite all the issues with the current situation, there are still a lot of obvious benefits that these workers do get like the ability to set their own hours, not having to work exactly 40 hours every week, and being able to work on multiple platforms.…

> Despite all the issues with the current situation, there are still a lot of obvious benefits that these workers do get like the ability to set their own hours, not having to work exactly 40 hours every week, and being able to work on multiple platforms.

None of those are linked to being an employee or contractor.

Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#653

Post by rabuse »

smsm42 wrote: post #629
crooked-v wrote: post #597

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a major difference between 'unsafe because of high crime rates' (the actual case in some places) and 'unsafe because an entire mob of random people will manifest out of the ether, drag you from your car, and beat you up' (the nonsense part). The latter has been seeing increasing use lately as part of the endless barrage of 'all of (city name) is a flaming ruin constantly prowled by antifa supersoldiers' claim…

It doesn't have to be "constant". It's enough to happen to you once to cost you tens of thousands of dollars, or your health, or, if you're very unlucky, your life. I've seen photos of people with firearms drawn stopping motorists at protests. You can talk all day about how it doesn't happen, but I've seen photos and videos of that happening. There's no way I would go to such place for $20/hr (Uber's average wage in…

Exactly, it's simple risk assessment. As much as people try to stay politically correct nowadays, it doesn't remove the most basic system we have, called survival. Life experiences and situations, creates these "stereotypes", and becomes widespread, because they are actual issues people try to avoid talking about, to not come off a certain way.

Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#654

Post by smsm42 »

mrhyyyyde wrote: post #583
smsm42 wrote: post #561

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's live in Seattle, Portland and Chicago.

Can you explain your point, the point is unclear. They're also live in other cities as well..?

The point is some places in some cities at some times carry high risk to whoever drives there. I consider it immoral for the company to force an employee (or contractor) to go to such high-risk place, and for that person I think makes complete sense to refuse going to such place and risk their assets (e.g. car) and their health for a relatively small payment.

Portland, Seattle and Chicago are examples of the cities which had recently well-documented examples of some areas being dangerous and carrying risk of violent encounters.

Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#655

Post by davidf18 »

adrianN wrote: post #454
rubatuga wrote: post #446

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is horrible for customers, the worst part is when drivers don't want to pick you up.

Here in Germany proper Taxis have to pick you up (as far as I know, I almost never need one). That's apparently the main reason they offer why they should be protected against services like Uber.

Uber/Lyft/Via absolutely necessary in NYC and other cities in USA because the taxis overcharge, especially in NYC which has ridiculous rates. Before Uber/Lyft came along, Medallions were on the market for $1.2 million and could be paid for by the cash flow of the taxis.

Now Uber/Lyft, esp Uber has raised its prices in NYC and now I rarely take them, mostly Lyft.

Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#656

Post by s1artibartfast »

asdff wrote: post #624
qeternity wrote: post #610

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And if they don't have better alternatives? Then it would seem applying more pressure to their already unprofitable employer is an unwise move...

Better not ban child labor if it puts kids out of work, right?

That depends on the environment. In many countries, when you ban legal child labor, the children have to turn to illegal jobs such as prostitution.

Most people dont work for uber because it is fun. They are doing it because their other options are worse.

Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#657

Post by ivraatiems »

xeromal wrote: post #644
ivraatiems wrote: post #348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like the State of California, I reject your premise that Uber drivers are not employees. But what would you call it, and how does that change the argument about why they're doing this?

Do you not think that uber has some employees and some contractors? What about the people that just work for a little side hustle. Like 5-10 hours a week?

Sure, I'm sure they have some actual contractors who are truly contractors under the law. Maybe some consultants, builders, painters, whatever. But not their drivers.

The correct term for a "side hustle" person is "part-time employee."

Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#658

Post by benmller313 »

asdff wrote: post #624
qeternity wrote: post #610

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And if they don't have better alternatives? Then it would seem applying more pressure to their already unprofitable employer is an unwise move...

Better not ban child labor if it puts kids out of work, right?

The fact that we prevent children from consenting to something that may be harmful to them doesn't mean we need a nanny state to protect everyone.

Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#659

Post by tmh79 »

dangus wrote: post #374
Grimm1 wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're only partially correct I as a salaried employee could technically set my own hours but If my employer pinged me at 2am and asked me to do something and I said no I wouldn't have recourse if they fired me. If I'm a contractor I can set those hours in the agreement with the company with legal backing if I then refuse to work during hours I've said I do not wish to work. But you're debating regulation in general…

I’m confused, what does Uber have to do with salaried employees? This is the workflow. 1. Gig worker applies for Uber in the app. 2. Uber approves the employee as a W2 employee. Their schedule is...whatever they want. They never get scheduled for a shift. They never get “fired” unless they do something that would get them get kicked off the platform just as it works today. 3. When the driver starts the driving mode,…

Uber would set hours because they would only hire people to work at times when there is demand. You would not be able to "clock in" at will, because there might not be any rides for you to take, and thus no reason for you to get paid.

Re: Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California

#660

Post by HPsquared »

gamblor956 wrote: post #379
rrrrrrrrrrrryan wrote: post #349

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There obviously needs to be a new class of workers. I've seen the phrase "Dependent Contractor" tossed around here on HN and I think it'd do quite well. If you work for an employer who sets your hours, pay, etc., you'd still be designated as an employee. If you sell your labor to multiple entities, and/or you set your own pay rate, you're an independent contractor. If you do not set your pay rate, you'd be a "depende…

A "dependent contractor" is literally what an employee is, except that in your scenario it would just be an employee without the decades of hard-fought labor protections like bathroom breaks.

Uber drivers can't take bathroom breaks?
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