Hundreds of Uber drivers in two dozen cities, including San
Francisco, Miami and Boston, for the first time will add their
voices to the union-backed "Fight for $15" campaign that has
helped convince several cities and states to raise starting pay
significantly above the U.S. minimum wage of $7.25.
Justin Berisie, 34, drives for Uber in Denver and is joining
Tuesday's protests.
"Someone who lives in America and goes to work every day, that
person deserves a decent living," said Berisie, who has a
5-year-old daughter and is struggling to make ends meet. He said
he earns $500 or less, before expenses such as gasoline, during
an average week where he is on duty for 50 to 60 hours.
The four-year-old "Fight for $15" movement includes fast-food
workers, home care aides, airport baggage handlers and other
low-wage employees. Organizers from "Fight for $15," which is
backed by the Service Employees International Union, say the
campaign's Nov. 29 demonstrations will take place in 340 cities
and nearly 20 of the nation's busiest airports.
U.S. policy is expected to become less worker friendly following
the election of Trump, a international businessman who will be
president as fellow Republicans control both chambers of
Congress as well as federal agencies that govern the formation
of unions, overtime rules and more.
Uber drivers have sued the company in several states, accusing
it of depriving drivers of various employment protections by
misclassifying them as independent contractors.
The lawsuits are a test for companies such as Uber Technologies
Inc [UBER.UL], a high-profile player in the so-called "sharing
economy," which say that their contractor model allows for
flexibility that many see as important to their success. A legal
finding that drivers are employees could raise Uber's costs and
force it to pay Social Security, workers' compensation, and
unemployment insurance.
(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Cynthia
Osterman)
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