Seattle judge blocks unionization rule
for Uber, Lyft drivers
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[April 05, 2017]
By Tom James
SEATTLE (Reuters) - A federal judge on
Tuesday temporarily blocked a Seattle ordinance that aims to allow
drivers for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft to form unions, the
first such local law in the United States.
The ruling, from U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik, stops the services
from being forced to share information on their Seattle drivers with an
extension of the Teamsters' union in the state, which has applied for
designation as the exclusive representative of drivers who wish to
unionize.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sued to strike down the law. In his ruling,
Lasnik wrote the decision to grant a preliminary injunction was not an
indication of how he would ultimately decide the case.
"The public will be well-served by maintaining the status quo while the
issues are given careful judicial consideration," Lasnik wrote.
The chamber, along with Uber and Lyft, welcomed the ruling.
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"The judge underscored the case's public importance and its potential
impact beyond for-hire transportation to other sectors of the economy
that rely on independent contractors," said Lily Fu Claffee, head of the
chamber's litigation division.
The Seattle City Council late in 2015 passed the ordinance requiring
that drivers of for-hire transportation companies - including app-based
services - be allowed to bargain collectively with their employers.
Both Uber and Lyft opposed the measure, arguing that existing federal
labor law trumps local legislation and prevents cities from requiring
collective bargaining.
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![](../images/040517pics/news_J21.jpg)
A man arrives at the Uber offices in Queens, New York, U.S.,
February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
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Dawn Gearhart, a spokeswoman for an International Brotherhood of
Teamsters local that is trying to organize drivers in Seattle, said
the court ruling was a setback, but that companies could still
negotiate with drivers voluntarily.
"The law does not require (companies) to run an anti-union
campaign," she said.
Gearhart said the union is also lobbying the city to set a minimum
fare, which in turn would create a wage floor for drivers.
(Reporting by Tom James in Seattle and Dan Levine in San Francisco;
editing by Grant McCool)
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