gig economy

Speed Grocery Delivery Workers Are in a Dangerous Race

A new industry of venture-capital-backed startups claim their workers are fast. Are they faster than regulations? NEW YORK?—?Anthony Hom offers tips to delivery workers on his YouTube channel, Ride With Anthony. In one 15-minute, day-in-the-life video titled ?“Delivering Groceries Almost Kills Worker NYC,” Hom records himself on an electric bicycle delivering groceries through the streets of Manhattan, …

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Here’s What’s in the New Bill Jointly Backed by Uber and the Teamsters in Washington State

Compensation, gig economy, paid leave, Retaliation / By max cyril

Uber’s lobbyists, after clinching an agreement with UFCW Canada to launch a charm offensive at the Ontario provincial government for employee-like benefits on behalf of an estimated 100,00 drivers, weren’t done hobnobbing with unions. Next up, the Teamsters in Washington state are working on a deal with Uber and Lyft. The legislation would give ride-hail workers new …

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Gig workers could end up losers in Covid relief bill

1 Comment / gig economy, Pandemic / By max cyril

Airbnb, Etsy and other pillars of the gig economy are shaping up to be rare losers in Democrats’ coronavirus relief package. Buried in the legislation are provisions that will require them to provide a lot more information to the IRS about the money millions of people earn through their platforms, which is likely to bring …

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Surveillance, Stress, and No Bathrooms: Life as an Amazon Driver

Leave a Comment / gig economy, Independant Contractors / By max cyril

Part 2 of a series on Amazon’s delivery drivers. Part 1, “Building Its Own Delivery Network, Amazon Puts the Squeeze On Drivers,” is here. The Amazonification of logistics has created a new group of highly exploited workers: delivery drivers. Amazon itself increasingly relies on an expanding network of subcontracted drivers and independent contractors to deliver packages …

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Amazon to pay huge settlement in wage theft case

Leave a Comment / FTC, gig economy / By max cyril

This week in “Amazon is scum” news, on Tuesday the company reached a $61.7 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over a longstanding practice of stealing tips from delivery drivers. Drivers for Amazon Flex were recruited with the promise of $18 to $25 an hour plus customer tips, and that’s how it worked in 2015 and 2016. But then …

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Building Its Own Delivery Network, Amazon Puts the Squeeze On Drivers

Leave a Comment / gig economy, Postal Workers / By max cyril

While millions have lost their jobs and thousands of small businesses have shut their doors, at least one company has thrived during the pandemic: Amazon. The e-commerce behemoth controls 40 percent of online sales and has amassed record profits. The net worth of founder Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, has jumped to $186 billion, …

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New York City Drivers Cooperative Aims to Smash Uber’s Exploitative Model

Leave a Comment / gig economy, Independant Contractors, labor / By max cyril

Ken Lewis grew up on the island of Grenada, and witnessed the progressive aftermath of its 1979 revolution. ?“I remember the power of cooperatives, people getting land, turning places that were barren into productive places,” he says. That image stayed with him after he moved to New York City for grad school and started driving a taxi on the …

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Why companies based on gig work are hurting more than their employees

Leave a Comment / gig economy, Independant Contractors / By max cyril

Imagine that one of two people will be responsible for your safety. The first receives health and dental benefits, earns more than minimum wage, has clear advancement options within their company, and may even belong to a union. The second has no insurance benefits, works wildly erratic hours, feels no allegiance to their company, and makes …

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Prop 22 is Bad for Black Workers

Leave a Comment / gig economy, Independant Contractors, Uncategorized / By max cyril

When the pandemic forced Cherri Murphy to stop driving for Lyft, she applied for unemployment benefits like millions of other workers. But because Lyft has refused to pay into California’s unemployment insurance fund, insisting that its workers are independent contractors rather than employees, Cherri received zero dollars in unemployment benefits. By day, Ms. Murphy is …

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Seattle makes DoorDash and Postmates pay out COVID-19 hazard pay

Leave a Comment / accountability, gig economy, Workplace Conditions / By max cyril

Seattle really pissed off gig economy companies by imposing $2.50 in hazard pay for each food delivery order during the pandemic. It’s no surprise that some of the big companies stiffed their workers—but there is a surprise here: Seattle’s Office of Labor Standards (OLS) successfully pressured DoorDash and Postmates to do internal audits and pay up. “After receiving calls …

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