The Minnesota ride-hail vetoes: Uber, Lyft, and the Minneapolis City Council will not tolerate cheap labor during the skirmishes
During Uber and Lyft’s skirmishes in New York and California, the companies also vowed to stop service. The companies ceased operations in greater Minnesota after the state passed a minimum wage bill for ride-hail drivers. “This is not the right bill”, said Gov. Tim Waltz when he vetoed that bill.
The ordinance, which guarantees drivers a minimum rate of $1.40 per mile and 51 cents per minute while carrying a rider, was first passed last week but later vetoed by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. The veto was rejected by the City Council on Thursday.
Osman said that affordable rides shouldn’t come at the expense of the drivers’ welfare. Drivers deserve minimum wage like any other worker, because they are human beings and with families, he said. He added that the “vote showed Uber, Lyft, and the Mayor that the Minneapolis City Council will not allow the East African community, or any community, to be exploited for cheap labor.”
Some areas set a minimum wage for drivers of food delivery vehicles. The minimum wage for drivers in New York is going to go from $18 an hour to $19 an hour, while the minimum wage in Seattle is going from $12 an hour to $13 an hour. The minimum wage in the United Kingdom has been established by the government.
Kicking Uber Out of the Twin Cities: The Edestible Case of Two Political Allies, One Corporate Giant and Two Socialies: The Minneapolis Drivers’ Rights
Robin Wonsley, the lead author of the policy, said it was a “David and Lazarus” story. “Regular working-class people took on two corporate giants and their political allies, and won.”
Uber’s senior director of public affairs, Josh Gold, said “We are disappointed the Council chose to ignore the data and kick Uber out of the Twin Cities.”
The companies treat their drivers as independent contractors, which means drivers pay for their own work expenses, like car maintenance and gas. Drivers don’t get health insurance, sick pay or other employee benefits through the companies.
Labor advocates and Minneapolis drivers say they should have the same opportunities to make a living.
