Uber fighting potentially landmark court case in NYC -- hearing in February.

[pnwmom]

If the case being heard by the New York state Workers’ Compensation board goes against Uber, and classifies the worker as an Uber employee, the company could be on the hook for years’ worth of compensation claims. Since its founding, Uber has insisted that the drivers and couriers that work through its app are independent contractors, and it simply runs a software platform that connects them with customers. But efforts are underway nationwide to challenge that assertion, with test cases being filed to state and federal authorities.

The case in New York has been filed by Jorge Washington, a courier for Uber’s Rush and Eats delivery services and a founding member of the New York Messengers Alliance, group representing gig-economy delivery people pushing for better pay and conditions. The organization is backed by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which successfully organized black car drivers in the city to receive labor protections and benefits like those of yellow cab drivers.

SNIP

In an attempt to end the case before it reaches a second hearing, slated for late February, Uber offered to settle with Washington, floating the possibility of a cash payment on the condition that he accept a rejection of his claim and terminate his contract with Uber. Such a settlement would avoid setting precedent, and leave his independent contractor status untested.

Washington and Grey declined, and say they have no plans to accept a settlement of any dollar amount. Grey also believes Uber engaged in unfair retaliation against his client, based on its proposal for termination as part of a settlement deal.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/coralewis/a-legal-fight-in-new-york-could-cause-big-headaches-for-uber?utm_term=.tnvokq5np#.lhQR48lwv

[brooklynite]

1. I doubt he'll win...

ALL taxi drivers and car service drivers in NYC have always been independent contractors.

[pnwmom]

2. Yellow and Black drivers get benefits. The Uber driver wants the same.

The organization is backed by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which successfully organized black car drivers in the city to receive labor protections and benefits like those of yellow cab drivers.

That was from the article at the OP.

I also found this:

http://www.nytwa.org/mission-and-history/

In 2012, NYTWA won a livable income raise, first-time regulations of taxi companies, and a Health and Disability Fund for drivers, the first for taxi drivers nationwide and one of the first for independent contractors. In 2011, NYTWA was chartered to build the National Taxi Workers Alliance, the 57th union of the AFL-CIO. The NTWA is the first charter for non-traditional workers since the farm workers in the 1960’s, and the first one ever of independent contractors.