United States: For California, Uber and Lyft must requalify the status of drivers

The California state accuses the two VTC platforms, Uber and Lyft, of imposing precarious statuses on their drivers. The prosecutor orders the requalification of drivers as employees. REUTERS / Lucy Nicholson

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It is a historic decision of the American justice. An intimate Californian court that Uber and Lyft, the two American leaders in VTC trips, are reclassifying their drivers as employees. Both platforms will appeal this decision.

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The state of California ruled in favor of the drivers. For the prosecutor, the arguments of Uber and Lyft do not hold water. He accuses the two VTC platforms of imposing precarious statuses on their drivers. This deprives them of social rights such as health insurance, or the minimum wage.

For the California prosecutor, Uber and Lyft, the two American leaders in private hire, abuse the independent status of drivers. They must re-qualify their drivers as employees. 

On the side of the two platforms, the line of defense remains the same. The majority of drivers wish to remain independent. They want, in fact, to control their schedule, because they are students, retirees, or have another job. 

The two companies also recall that a requalification of their drivers as employees will force them to increase the price of races. A decision that could set a precedent in the rest of the United States. This gives hope to the hundreds of other drivers who are demanding this requalification in court.

► To read: United States: in California, VTC drivers will have the status of employees

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  • United States
  • Transport
  • Automotive
  • Justice

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