Help Seattle for-hire drivers at hearing today

SEATTLE (Dec. 14, 2015) — Union members and community supporters are urged to attend today’s 2 p.m. hearing at Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Ave., at the Seattle City Council takes testimony and votes on a ground-breaking proposal that would provide collective bargaining rights for drivers-for-hire: those working for Uber and Lyft, taxi drivers and others. This is an opportunity for Seattle to once again play a leading national role in promoting workers’ rights.

These drivers are portrayed as “independent contractors,” with none of the rights that other workers have: no minimum wage, no overtime, no unemployment benefits, no workers’ comp, no benefits. Part of the reason that is true is because they have no right to collective bargaining. Some of the drivers earn less than $3 an hour.

Working with Teamsters Local 117 and the drivers, Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien has introduced a proposal to provide the drivers with a path to collective bargaining.

TAKE A STAND — Please join drivers and their supporters on Monday, Dec. 14 at 2 pm at Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue (between James and Cherry) to support the drivers. We need to send a clear message to City Council: all workers deserve the basic rights to organize and to bargain collectively. If you want to testify on the proposal, please be sure to show up early to sign up — and it would be a good idea to be there by 1 p.m.

TAKE A STAND 2 — Can’t come to the meeting in person? Email the Councilmembers and urge them to support collective bargaining rights for the drivers: send a message to all of the Councilmembers at council@seattle.gov.