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Article

1 Aug 2017

Author:
Nat Levy, Geekwire (USA)

Judge tosses U.S. Chamber lawsuit over Seattle’s Uber union law, but dispute isn’t over yet

Seattle’s first-of-its-kind unionization law for drivers of services like Uber and Lyft got a big win in court Tuesday when a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought against the controversial ordinance by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

However…U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik left in place an injunction that stops the city from implementing the law because another lawsuit against it remains ongoing. In a statement, Uber General Manager for the Pacific Northwest Brooke Steger said Uber plans to appeal the ruling…The chamber also issued a statement…“We are…exploring all options for further review…The City’s unlawful ordinance would stifle innovation and undermine economic growth...”

…The law, passed last year, gives drivers the ability to band together to negotiate pay rates and employment conditions…Currently, these drivers…are not protected by traditional labor standards — including…minimum wage law. They also do not have collective bargaining rights…

The most controversial aspect of the law concerns which drivers get to vote on collective bargaining…Ride-hailing companies…favor giving every driver a vote, without the type of restrictions in Seattle’s rules…

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