Uber, Lyft Drivers Finally Get Benefits in NY After $328 Million Settlement

WatchThe M3 MacBook Pro: Made Dark for Halloween CCShare SubtitlesOffEnglishAs part of the settlement, Uber drivers will earn a minimum of $26 per hour when picking up or dropping off a rider, will receive 56 hours of paid sick leave per year, and will get paid driver training and education on the app.Advertisement“The agreement is a win for drivers across New York State who can now enjoy both the flexibility that is so important to them, while also having new benefits and protections like a minimum earnings standard and paid sick leave,” Uber said in the press release. The company added that it hopes the settlement will pave the way for other states to treat drivers as full-time employees rather than contractors and shows “when we work together with legislators and regulators, we can resolve these issues in a way that benefits workers and consumers alike.”AdvertisementLyft also referred to the agreement as a “win.” “New York has long been a leader in providing drivers portable benefits through flexible earning opportunities with its Black Car Fund, and this agreement expands upon that foundation,” said Jeremy Bird, Lyft’s chief policy officer. “We look forward to continuing this work in order to provide New York drivers the independence and full range of benefits available to those in other states, like California and Washington.”AdvertisementThe settlements follow a years-long investigation by the state attorney general’s office into Uber and Lyft’s practices which revealed the companies withheld driver’s pay and blocked drivers from receiving certain benefits available under New York state labor laws. “For years, Uber and Lyft systematically cheated their drivers out of hundreds of millions of dollars in pay and benefits while they worked long hours in challenging conditions,” Attorney General James said in a statement accompanying the announcement.Advertisement“These drivers overwhelmingly come from immigrant communities and rely on these jobs to provide for their families,” James added. “This settlement will ensure they finally get what they have rightfully earned and are owed under the law.”

Based on reporting by gizmodo.com.