Joshua Wood, a 25-year-old delivery worker in Brooklyn, experienced the empty streets of New York City during the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. This led him to believe that urgent change was needed in the gig economy. According to a report from the Pew Research Center, one in six American adults participates in gig work on platforms like Uber and DoorDash. However, while these jobs offer flexibility, they often do not provide basic protections or meet minimum wage standards. Wood is a member of Los Deliveristas Unidos, a labor group advocating for benefits for gig workers in New York City. He believes that workers need to take action to improve their conditions.
New York City has recently passed legislation guaranteeing certain benefits and a minimum wage for food delivery workers, and other communities across the country are following suit. Over the past five years, at least 10 jurisdictions, including cities like Chicago and Seattle, and states like Colorado, Connecticut, and Minnesota, have proposed new protections for gig workers in the form of minimum wage standards and other benefits. Additionally, at least 10 states are considering programs to help gig workers access traditional workplace benefits like retirement and paid family leave. Regulators and courts in states like Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are also working towards forcing gig platforms to provide the same benefits as full-time employees.
This movement towards gig worker rights is part of a larger global reassessment of worker rights in the gig economy. Australia and the European Union have taken steps to strengthen workplace protections for gig workers, and the U.S. Department of Labor has announced new rules that could classify some gig workers as employees. However, gig companies strongly oppose reclassifying workers, arguing that it would jeopardize flexibility, independence, and increase consumer costs. Critics argue that these companies are resistant to providing benefits to their workers while actively fighting against regulations they disagree with.
The gig economy has grown significantly over the past decade, with platforms like Uber and Airbnb providing on-demand digital marketplaces for various services. Consumers enjoy the convenience and flexibility of these platforms, and workers are drawn to them for the same reasons, such as control over their schedules and limited other work options. However, gig work comes with instability and lack of traditional benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues, leading to the formation of advocacy groups calling for protections like minimum wages and paid sick leave.
Cities like Seattle and New York City have implemented minimum wage standards for gig workers, and other cities like Chicago are planning to do the same. However, gig companies argue that such policies can have unintended consequences, such as reducing workers’ incomes and limiting the number of drivers or couriers. Well-funded lobbying efforts by gig platforms have influenced the outcomes of legislation in some jurisdictions, leading to the rejection of worker protection bills. Despite the opposition, there is evidence that minimum wage standards can be implemented without significantly raising prices for consumers.
The fight for gig worker rights continues, with advocates pushing for stronger protections and benefits. The gig economy is at a crossroads, with the potential for positive change through legislative action and reclassification of workers. It remains to be seen how these issues will be resolved and what the future holds for gig workers and the platforms they rely on.