New York City has taken steps to protect ride-hailing drivers from being unfairly terminated by Silicon Valley giants Uber and Lyft. The city council has passed legislation that requires the companies to give drivers at least 14 days' notice before deactivating their accounts, unless they've been accused of egregious misconduct.
The new law aims to prevent "deactivation cases" where drivers are suddenly removed from the apps without any explanation or recourse. It also includes measures such as preventing drivers from being fired without just cause, establishing an independent appeal process, and providing a pathway for reinstatement with back pay when they're kicked off.
This development comes after former Mayor Eric Adams vetoed several bills during his final day in office. However, the council overrode most of those vetoes, including this legislation. Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, who sponsored the bill, hailed it as a major victory for drivers, saying that too often they've seen their livelihoods stripped away without warning.
The law is intended to address concerns about driver safety and accountability. Lyft had previously spread misinformation campaigns to prevent similar measures from being passed in the past. However, this legislation explicitly requires immediate deactivation of drivers accused of serious offenses such as sexual harassment or reckless driving.
The bill adds to existing regulations issued by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, which limit how often apps like Uber and Lyft can temporarily "lock out" their drivers to avoid paying them. Representatives for Uber have yet to comment on the new legislation.
Lyft spokesperson Geoff Berman described the law as a "flawed policy" that risks making it harder to remove unsafe drivers from the platform. However, critics argue that this justifies harsher penalties against legitimate drivers. The measure is seen as a significant victory for ride-hailing workers and their advocates, who have long argued for greater protections and accountability from these companies.
The new law aims to prevent "deactivation cases" where drivers are suddenly removed from the apps without any explanation or recourse. It also includes measures such as preventing drivers from being fired without just cause, establishing an independent appeal process, and providing a pathway for reinstatement with back pay when they're kicked off.
This development comes after former Mayor Eric Adams vetoed several bills during his final day in office. However, the council overrode most of those vetoes, including this legislation. Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, who sponsored the bill, hailed it as a major victory for drivers, saying that too often they've seen their livelihoods stripped away without warning.
The law is intended to address concerns about driver safety and accountability. Lyft had previously spread misinformation campaigns to prevent similar measures from being passed in the past. However, this legislation explicitly requires immediate deactivation of drivers accused of serious offenses such as sexual harassment or reckless driving.
The bill adds to existing regulations issued by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, which limit how often apps like Uber and Lyft can temporarily "lock out" their drivers to avoid paying them. Representatives for Uber have yet to comment on the new legislation.
Lyft spokesperson Geoff Berman described the law as a "flawed policy" that risks making it harder to remove unsafe drivers from the platform. However, critics argue that this justifies harsher penalties against legitimate drivers. The measure is seen as a significant victory for ride-hailing workers and their advocates, who have long argued for greater protections and accountability from these companies.
. It's just not right that drivers can get suddenly kicked off without any explanation or even a chance to appeal. I mean, can you imagine if someone just took your job like that? 
It's a huge victory for ride-hailing workers and their advocates, who've been fighting for better protections and accountability from these companies for years.
. We need more of these kinds of laws to hold companies like Uber and Lyft accountable for putting people's lives at risk. And yeah, it's a shame that Lyft tried to spread misinformation campaigns to prevent similar measures from being passed in the past 
. But I'm just glad this legislation is finally moving forward and giving drivers some much-needed protection 
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OMG can you believe it?! finally some progress on protecting our fellow gig economy workers! I mean, 14 days notice before deactivation is HUGE! 
it's like they're saying 'hey guys we know you're not just drivers but entrepreneurs too' 
and also those 'deactivation cases' are just so unfair 
and I love how councilmember Shekar Krishnan is like the ultimate hero 
. This law is like the OG protection for them - 14 days' notice before they're kicked off, plus an independent appeal process... it's like a safety net 
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just saw this news about NYC taking steps to protect ride-hailing drivers from being unfairly terminated by Uber & Lyft 
. This law might seem small but it's a start 
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what's next? are they gonna regulate the air we breathe?! 
that's not fair to the good drivers out there. and what about when someone does do something wrong? shouldn't there be consequences but also a chance for them to make it right? 
I gotta say, finally some love for our Uber/Lyft fam 
. The 14 days' notice is a good start, but let's not forget about the back pay and reinstatement options 
I'm so glad to see New York City taking concrete steps to protect the livelihoods of its ride-hailing drivers! 
It's about time! I mean, can you imagine getting deactivated without warning just because of a mistake or two? No thanks! This 14-day notice period is a good start, but we need to see more changes. The fact that Uber and Lyft were trying to spread misinformation to block similar laws in the past tells me they're not exactly looking out for their drivers' best interests