(Bloomberg) — Seattle's City Council voted unanimously to give collective bargaining rights to drivers-for-hire, such as those who work for ride-share companies Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc.
The bill, proposed by city council member Mike O'Brien, requires taxicab and for-hire car companies to negotiate with a "driver representative" over the terms and conditions of work, if a sufficient number of drivers choose to be represented.
For-hire drivers are generally considered independent contractors by the companies who employ them, and aren't covered by the National Labor Relations Act, which allows collective bargaining. Independent contractors also aren't entitled to labor standards such as minimum wage, health and safety guidelines or reimbursements for work-related costs. While the Seattle vote is aimed at giving drivers more of a say in their job conditions, it's not clear how this will work in practice with Uber, Lyft and any other car-booking company.
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