Hello our dear driver colleagues,
It has come to our attention that on Monday at 3:30 the Driver Advisory Council will meet to discuss new legislation that will affect all drivers.
As you may know, drivers in Washington state have conceded to Independent Contractor misclassification in favor of a second-rate minimum wage floor. Drivers Union of Washington heralds this negotiation as the best in the country. Rideshare Drivers United disagrees with this assertion and regards this legislation as an assault on worker rights. While we know that we must fight together for better wages and protections from deactivation, we know that settling for less than FULL employment rights is unacceptable for Uber and Lyft drivers.
We are also clear that legislation in New York City far exceeds the benefits of those outlined in Washington State’s law. Because of NY’s powerful drivers union that includes not only rideshare but also taxi drivers, New York City has established a wage floor that considers drivers’ enormous out-of-pocket expenses as well as a fair amount of wait times and guarantees that drivers earn more than $30 an hour (including wait time). This is all through regulation. In addition, New York State maintains drivers’ full labor rights as employees so drivers receive unemployment benefits, paid sick leave, and rights to other programs built to protect workers.
We know that our status as “independent contractors” is fake. The app determines our wages and demand determines our schedules. We are not sole proprietors. The technology allows us flexibility, and is consistent with labor rights, as shown in places like NY State. We deserve equal protections and fair wages like all workers in the country.
This Monday at 3:30, Drivers Union Washington (in affiliation with WA Teamsters Local 117) will attempt to convince Portland municipalities that their Washington legislation should be brought to Oregon. This, despite the fact that the Teamsters National President has publicly opposed the bill stating, “this can’t be a money-grabbing association.”
By raising our voices together as Oregon drivers, we can stand up for flexibility, higher wages and demand our labor rights NOT BE GIVEN AWAY.
Please sign up below if you’re able to attend the meeting in person, or to access the Zoom link for the meeting. We MUST tell PBOT that giving up our labor rights is not what Oregon drivers want and need. We will not allow WA Teamsters to sell their model to our state & compromise our rights!
If you’d like to connect with drivers in your community who are building a REAL rank and file union, please join Portland Drivers United.
Together, we can fight for our rights and win real power for all drivers, from Forest Grove to Gresham, and everywhere in-between.
In Solidarity,
Portland Drivers United
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