California is suing Uber and Lyft, alleging they misclassified their drivers as independent contractors under the state’s new labor law, in the most significant challenge to the ride-hailing companies’ employment model to date. Xavier Becerra, the state’s attorney general, announced the lawsuit Tuesday during a news conference. The labor law, known as AB5 and considered…
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For the last week, Ahmed, a driver for Uber and Lyft, has faced a heartbreaking choice: starvation or sickness. Ahmed has four kids, ages 11, eight, five and three. He lives with them, his wife and his elderly parents in San Francisco. He provides his family’s sole source of income, but even though he works…
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Rideshare drivers in San Francisco defied the city’s shelter in place order on Thursday to protest in front of Uber’s headquarters, demanding the company provide them with more benefits as they continue to work through the coronavirus pandemic. The drivers are calling for the enforcement of AB5, a landmark California law that went into effect…
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A minicab app bidding to topple Uber in London is facing legal action over claims it underpaid the minimum wage – a move also intended to force it to provide drivers with workers’ rights. Andrei Donisa is bringing a test case against Bolt after it expelled him from its platform for refusing to take enough…
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Uber and Lyft achieved multi-billion dollar valuations by classifying drivers as independent contractors who are ineligible for benefits. Now the spread of coronavirus may force the gig economy to reform. Both companies have announced funds to compensate drivers who have been quarantined or diagnosed with Covid-19, in response to pressure from those who say they…
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The coronavirus outbreak in the US is underscoring the difficulty of regulating the gig economy, an industry that is fundamentally based on sharing spaces and – potentially – germs. And as ride share, food delivery, and other platforms scramble to release safety guidelines for customers and employees, many workers who depend on gig work for…
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