Doesn’t this establish that Uber is an employer?

Robert Reich via facebook.com

Yesterday at 3:44pm ·

In a lawsuit filed in California’s Northern District Court, Uber today said it doesn’t “employ” its drivers. So they’re not entitled to Social Security, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, minimum wage, pension protection, health insurance (under Obamacare), or any other protections accorded employees. Meanwhile, Uber has shifted onto its drivers all the costs of the business – owning and maintaining the cars, paying for gas, paying for car insurance. At the same time, Uber reserves the right to kick drivers off its platform, to set rates, to require drivers follow certain protocols, and demand 20 percent of drivers’ fares.

Doesn’t this establish that Uber is an employer? Similar lawsuits are pending against Lyft (Uber’s chief U.S. rival); Postmates (offering on-demand delivery); Homejoy (on-demand cleaning); and Instacart (on-demand grocery shopping). Even against Fed Ex – which says it’s not the employer of its pickup and delivery drivers. 

Meanwhile, company after company is laying off full-time employees and hiring them back as “independent contractors.” Unless the trend is stopped in court, all of us will soon become independent contractors.

The TRUTH will set you FREE.