AG Healey is suing Uber and Lyft sparking a protest at State House

BOSTON — Hit hard by the pandemic, rideshare and delivery driver rallied at the State House pushing for the right to unionize.

Members of the Boston Independent Drivers Guild rallied at the State House Thursday opposing legislation that would designate app-based drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.

BIDG’s Henry Groot says house bill 2582...sponsored by Reps Gonzalez of Springfield and Cusack of Braintree...would keep drivers’ rates well below minimum wage and deny them crucial rights.

“The situation has been deteriorating for years. Drivers who’ve been driving for 7, 8 years have had their pay cut time and time again,” says De Groot who filed his own bill --SD 2359. It has no legislative co-sponsors but would give drivers $20 per hour minimum wage, a right to union and employee benefits, and guarantee minimum hours driven.

Attorney General Maura Healey is suing Uber and Lyft over allegations that they violate state wage and hour laws.

“It’s not giving the drivers any workers rights so it’s definitely not helping the drivers.“says Munim Khan who has been a driver since 2011. He says driving for companies like Uber and Lyft has gotten even more difficult in the pandemic.

Proponents of the bill say the majority of rideshare drivers actually want to remain independent.

The newly formed Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work...which includes Uber, Lyft, Doordash...as well as the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts says their data shows only 1 in 10 would prefer what they call a traditional employment relationship

In a statement, the Urban League’s Dr. Keith Motley said of house bill: “Having the flexibility to work when, where and for however long we want, with few barriers to entry, means we are able to build work around our lives, instead of the other way around.”

The founders of Boston Uncornered wrote, “Flexible, app-based work has become a lifeline for young people in Boston...”

Both groups likened H2582 to California’s Proposition 22. Prop 22 will allow rideshare and delivery drivers to continue to be treated as independent contractors with some benefit concessions

Cox Media Group