Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#1

Post by drkimball » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 11:46 PM UTC

Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees
wsj.com

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#2

Post by carlmr » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 5:49 AM UTC

While I like better prices through competition, I think the employees should be treated fairly.

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#3

Post by birdyrooster » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 5:52 AM UTC

The opponents of this bill claim that they would need to institute shifts. Why so? Why can't they just be part-time employees with flexible schedules?

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#4

Post by Gibbon1 » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 7:45 AM UTC

carlmr wrote: post #2

While I like better prices through competition, I think the employees should be treated fairly.

At some point the race to the bottom to exploit workers has to stop.

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#5

Post by villgax » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 8:28 AM UTC

So all freelancing companies also should follow the same route?

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#6

Post by Traubenfuchs » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 9:23 AM UTC

villgax wrote: post #5

So all freelancing companies also should follow the same route?

With the kind of freelancing you are probably referencing, the deal is that you get a much higher hourly rate with the drawback that you have less long term job security and need to actively manage your engagements, contracts, taxes, etc.

Ride sharing drivers usually get less money than "normal" drivers, to the point where legislators around the world want to protect them.

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#7

Post by conanbatt » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 11:58 AM UTC

carlmr wrote: post #2

While I like better prices through competition, I think the employees should be treated fairly.

I think california taxpayers should be treated fairly. Amazing how rent in SF is higher than what these drivers make, and the state solution is to make sure they pay more taxes.

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#8

Post by rockinghigh » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 12:27 PM UTC

birdyrooster wrote: post #3

The opponents of this bill claim that they would need to institute shifts. Why so? Why can't they just be part-time employees with flexible schedules?

If all drivers are employees and all show up to work at 10AM when there is little demand, you can’t pay all of them minimum wage. The companies would have to predict demand and ask just enough driver employees to match the demand.

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#9

Post by jbarberu » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 1:17 PM UTC

I don't understand why the term ride-sharing is even used when talking about Uber and Lyft. Has anyone ever gone with a driver who wasn't just driving an unlicensed cab? Or is it referring to multiple riders sharing one car?

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#10

Post by ergothus » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 1:32 PM UTC

rockinghigh wrote: post #8

birdyrooster wrote: post #3

The opponents of this bill claim that they would need to institute shifts. Why so? Why can't they just be part-time employees with flexible schedules?

If all drivers are employees and all show up to work at 10AM when there is little demand, you can’t pay all of them minimum wage. The companies would have to predict demand and ask just enough driver employees to match the demand.

Why does "employee" equate to "show up at 10AM" ? Why cant they work the same hours and style they do now, but with the title of "employee"?

That's an honest question, I know employment laws are complex and likely didnt include these concepts, but I'm also interested in facts over speculation.