As the city of Seattle tries to figure out how to implement its unprecedented new law allowing for-hire, independent contractor drivers (such as those who drive for Uber and Lyft) to unionize, an organization has taken root to ensure drivers have a say in the process and that riders and policy makers understand the impacts unionization would have on the drivers and riders who rely on for-hire driving services.

Drive Forward, a nonprofit organization, has launched a website and this weekend ran a half-page ad in The Seattle Times showcasing the real world effects Seattle’s new law will have when it goes into effect next year. 

Uber drivers, who are self-employed and simply contract with Uber and Lyft to offer their driving services, are featured in short videos on the Drive Forward website explaining why the for-hire, independent contractor model works best for them and why they oppose any effort to unionize their industry.  These drivers say unionizing would kill the freedom and flexibility that has become the hallmark of the for-hire driving industry:

"They're [unions] going to decide who drives, when they drive, where they drive...it destroys the flexibility of Uber."

—Charles

 

"My security is in my flexibility to run my business the way I choose to run it. With collective bargaining, I’d no longer be able to do that."

—Maurice

As one driver put it, unionizing would “effectively turn us into taxicabs.”

To put it in perspective, Dawn Gearheart, an official with the local Teamsters 117 union pushing for the right to unionize for-hire drives, dismisses drivers’ concerns, saying, “We don’t want your flexibility.”  Teamsters 117 is also pushing for part-time drivers to be excluded from the voting process.

The as yet unspecified criteria that will be used to determine which drivers will be allowed to vote for or against unionization is one of the key concerns of many Uber drivers.  Under Seattle’s new law, only “qualified drivers,” which is undefined, will be able to vote to decide whether they want to be represented by a labor union.  In its current form, Seattle’s new ordinance would result in only drivers with a certain number of trips or driving hours being given the right to vote.  This would leave many part-time drivers with absolutely no say and no voice. 

Even more concerning is that unions need just a simple majority (50% + 1) of qualified drivers to vote in favor of unionizing.  So a narrow segment of for-hire drivers may be given the chance to vote on something that would impact each and every for-hire driver in the city. 

A simple majority vote in favor of unionization by “qualified drivers” would force every independent contractor driver to have their incomes and work schedules subjected to union control.  The union would have the power to negotiate contract matters like the hours a driver can work, the type of car they must drive, and background check requirements.

The only choice every driver would have is to join the union and pay mandatory union dues, or lose their driving business.

Amidst growing concerns with how Seattle’s controversial (and possibly illegal) new rule will be implemented, the Seattle City Council unanimously agreed on September 12 to delay implementation of the ordinance for 4 months (to January 17) in order to get more information from drivers and develop the specific rules on how the process will work. 

Drive Forward hopes more input from the city’s for-hire drivers will ensure the City Council will, at the very least, allow every for-hire driver in the city to have a say in the vote for or against unionization.