This is good news for Uber and Lyft drivers. New York State will implement that the ride drivers will receive paid sick leave as well as minimum wage.
The decision comes after a $328 million settlement for wage theft after the companies were accused of making drivers pay for sales taxes and other fees instead of the customers. This huge news was announced by NY Attorney General Letitia James earlier this month.
In a statement James said, “Rideshare drivers work at all hours of the day and night to take people wherever they need to go.” She continued, “For years, Uber and Lyft systemically cheated their drivers out of hundreds of millions of dollars in pay and benefits while they worked long hours in challenging conditions.”
The head of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Bhairavi Desai also released a statement about the change. “We’ve waited eight long years to see justice for our members, a workforce that was cheated out of better living conditions and timely meals and rest and leisure because the earnings that would have provided for that life were stolen by multi-billion dollar corporations.”
However, rideshare drivers and passengers are not too happy with how things have been going especially since fees for both companies continue to rise but their pay doesn’t. A rideshare passenger said, “It would be a disaster especially if you’re visiting Atlanta. That’s one of the top services you’ll need if you’re trying to get from point A to point B.”
The passenger also pointed out how Uber’s policies benefit the customers more than the drivers. “I got to the pickup, and he was upset and cursing me out because I had mistaken another man.”
What are your thoughts on this?