Weekly Roundup: Massachusetts Ballot Initiative Could Allow Rideshare Drivers to Unionize

Rideshare drivers in Massachusetts could soon have the right to unionize as independent contractors. Over 1,000 Lyft and Uber drivers protest app lockouts in Manhattan. What can rideshare drivers do about false service animal claims? TurnSignl announces a new partnership with Moov. Uber Eats to prioritize higher paying orders to those with high acceptance rates. We break it all down for you.

Massachusetts Ballot Initiative Could Allow Rideshare Drivers to Unionize 🚗📋✊

Massachusetts ballot question
Massachusetts Ballot Question

SOURCE – MSN.com

During the upcoming Nov. 5 election, Massachusetts voters will decide on Ballot Question 3, which proposes allowing Lyft and Uber drivers to form and join unions, enabling them to engage in collective bargaining as independent contractors.

The legislation aims to provide drivers with the right to negotiate pay, benefits, and working conditions collectively, without needing to officially be an employee of the company.

  • However, the initiative would not extend unionization rights to all app-based workers, such as food delivery drivers, leaving some sectors outside the scope of the legislation.
  • Some groups have been dissatisfied with the legislation, as it would maintain drivers as independent contractors. Some driver-rights groups and drivers believe rideshare drivers should be company employees.
  • Both Uber and Lyft have expressed concerns about parts of the ballot language but do not plan to oppose the measure; instead, they opt to address issues in future legislative sessions.

Over 1K Uber, Lyft Drivers Protest App Lockouts in Manhattan 🚕🚧🚦

Driver protest Manhattan
Driver protest Manhattan

SOURCE – AM New York

Over 1,000 Uber and Lyft drivers protested in Manhattan this week, blocking traffic to demand an end to app “lockouts” that have significantly reduced earnings.

The New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) claims these lockouts are a tactic by the rideshare companies to manipulate utilization rates, as higher utilization rates enable lower driver pay per city regulations.

  • Despite an earlier agreement to stop the lockouts, NYTWA labels the deal ineffective, alleging illegal collusion between Uber and Lyft.
  • The drivers’ protest coincides with demands for the city’s Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) to revise existing rules and consider a bill that would require just cause before permanently removing drivers from the app.
  • Meanwhile, Uber and Lyft continue to criticize the city’s minimum pay rules, with Lyft citing the utilization rate as a direct cause of lockouts and Uber contesting that drivers’ earnings have increased.

What Can Rideshare Drivers Do About Passengers Falsely Claiming Pets as Service Animals? 🐾🚗❓

Service Animals Uber Lyft
Service Animals Uber Lyft

SOURCE – YouTube

In the latest episode of Show Me The Money Club, hosts Sergio and Chris tackled a pressing issue affecting many drivers: passengers falsely claiming their pets as service animals.

  • Drivers face challenges in verifying these claims at the start of a ride, with potential violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act if they refuse service.
  • Historically, Uber and Lyft have deactivated drivers following customer complaints about denied rides for their pets.
  • Some drivers might prefer not to have pets in their vehicles for a variety of reasons, such as maintaining cleanliness and addressing health concerns.
  • Although these rideshare companies now offer pet travel options, utilizing these services incurs an additional fee.
  • Your take: What do you think is a reasonable solution to accommodate these riders? We may include your thoughts in a future newsletter. Just hit “reply” to the email and let us know what you think!
Moov Turnsgnl
Moov Turnsgnl

SOURCE – LinkedIn

TurnSignl is partnering with MOOV Rideshare in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota to provide drivers with on-demand access to legal guidance, enhancing their safety and security.

TurnSignl offers a real-time service that provides 24/7 access to attorneys for legal guidance, which can be used during accidents or police encounters, with the interaction recorded by the driver’s camera.

  • TurnSignl, a Black-owned, Minnesota-based company, was established to provide vetted legal support and de-escalation during police interactions, inspired by the urgent need for safety solutions following incidents of police violence.
  • MOOV is an upstart rideshare company that operates in Minnesota, among the slew of new companies that entered the market amidst uncertainty about Uber and Lyft’s availability in the region.

Uber Eats to Prioritize Higher Paying Orders for Couriers with High Acceptance Rates? 🍔📈🚲

Uber Eats to Prioritize
Uber Eats to Prioritize

Source – YouTube Shorts

According to a screenshot obtained from Boston Drives on X, Uber is making some changes for Uber Eats delivery drivers. It appears that Uber Eats is starting a pilot in select cities.

Starting November 1, couriers who accept more requests, cancel less, and provide reliable service will receive priority access to higher-paying deliveries through a new reward called “Preferred Deliveries.”

Uber also said it would be updating the criteria for achieving Gold, Platinum, and Diamond status, including introducing an acceptance rate as a new criterion for eligibility.

Learn more details in our latest YouTube Short!

QUICK HITS

  • JPMorgan Chase purchased 24,379,304 shares of Lyft, indicating a growing confidence in the ride-sharing company’s market potential. Chase previously only had about 2M shares. – Yahoo! Finance
  • Autonomous vehicle company Wayve said it will start testing its self-driving vehicles on the streets of San Francisco and the Bay Area in California, signifying its initial on-road trials beyond the United Kingdom. The company will use a fleet of Ford Mach-E vehicles for its tests. – QZ
  • A TikTokker captured a Dasher driving a $120K Tesla Cybertruck. Many came to the man’s defense online, saying DoorDash could be a good side hustle for someone with a full-time job. Thoughts, drivers? – Daily Dot
  • A Lyft driver had trouble with their GPS and ended up getting stuck on the stairs of the University of Oklahoma campus. – Norman Transcript

Must Listen Or Watch RSG Content

Here are this week’s featured podcast episode and YouTube videos: