SAUGUS — Approximately 80 Boston-area rideshare drivers gathered at Uber Greenlight Hub in Saugus Tuesday morning to urge the company not to remove a 35- to 45-cent surcharge on deliveries — and to celebrate a Supreme Judicial Court ruling that scrapped a ballot measure that would have classified gig drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.
“Not only was it a protest, but it also became a celebration for the drivers, because Massachusetts residents can rest a little bit easier knowing that this unconstitutional and greedy ballot initiative by Uber will no longer be on the November ballot,” said Jonathan Paz, organizing director of Massachusetts is Not for Sale.
The ballot question, which was set to be put to voters this fall, stipulated that rideshare drivers would remain independent contractors without minimum working hours. But they would be paid an ensured minimum wage of $18 per hour, occupational accident insurance to cover up to $1 million in medical expenses and lost income, a company-paid healthcare stipend, and up to 26 weeks of paid sick leave.
Paz said that the initiative that was overruled by the court sought to permanently classify the drivers as independent contractors, and thus not only pay them less, but also not provide protection from racism or accidents.
“Part of that ballot initiative would have allowed them to have a liability shield, which would essentially put all the liability on the driver if there is an accident, and the passenger would legally have to go to the driver rather than being compensated by a billion-dollar tech company,” said Paz.
On March 16, Uber introduced an additional compensation of a 45- to 55-cent surcharge on every ride and a 35- to 45-cent surcharge on deliveries in response to spiking gas prices. When the surcharge was introduced, the company said it was to be reevaluated in 60 days, according to an email from Uber. But, Paz said, to his knowledge the company has not taken that action.
“We think that it is disrespectful for these Gig Tech Companies to provide less for their drivers, and 45 cents is not enough — it’s a meager amount.”
Uber said to the Item that the premise of the protest was based on false information, as Uber announced last month that it was extending the surcharge that launched earlier in the year.
The previous demonstration of the rideshare drivers in Saugus took place in March this year. That time the rideshare driver’s union wanted the company, Massachusetts Greenlight Uber, to increase standard mileage rates to $1 per mile to compensate for the increased costs of operating, and to raise the UberXL and Uber Black SUV rates to $2 per mile and $2.50 per mile, respectively, as the drivers got hit by the soaring gas prices crisis.
That initiative did not pass, and “the fight continues to unionize these drivers,” said Paz.
Oksana Kotkina can be reached at [email protected].
