Uber and Lyft’s Sneaky Deal: Massachusetts Drivers Get Crumbs, But Still Screwed
In a move that reeks of corporate manipulation, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has brokered a deal with Uber and Lyft that gives drivers a paltry $32.50 per hour minimum wage and some benefits, but still maintains their status as independent contractors. The deal, announced yesterday, is a slap in the face to the thousands of drivers who have been fighting for fair treatment.
But wait, there’s more! The companies will also pay out a whopping $175 million to "current and former drivers who were underpaid" – a nice little bonus for those who have been ripped off by the companies’ misclassification of drivers as independent contractors. But don’t get too excited, because the fine print reveals that only a select few will qualify for this payout, and the details of who and how will be released "in coming weeks". Yeah, right.
And what about those benefits, you ask? Well, drivers will get yearly inflation-based pay raises, but let’s be real, that’s just a token gesture. They’ll also get to earn up to 40 hours of sick leave per year, paid at a whopping $20 per hour. Wow, what a luxury. And don’t even get me started on the stipends for healthcare and family leave – a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.
But the real kicker is that Uber and Lyft will be able to carry out annual audits and submit reports to the Attorney General’s office, all while getting away with still classifying drivers as independent contractors. It’s a sweet deal for the companies, and a slap in the face to the drivers who have been fighting for fair treatment.
So, to all the drivers out there, don’t be fooled by this half-baked deal. You’re still getting screwed, and the companies are still getting away with murder. It’s time to rise up and demand better.
