Three Uber drivers were recently determined to employees and eligible for unemployment insurance through the New York State Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.

All workers deserve the social safety net of being able to provide for their families when not able to work. We expect it will continue to take years to get any final ruling on the classification of all of our members, and in the meantime drivers are struggling to survive. It’s crucial that the city and state act to extend the safety net to all drivers now, by becoming the first in the nation to protect drivers with a livable minimum pay rate and by building on our workers’ compensation and the landmark new telemedicine and vision benefits we just won. Whether courts rule our members as Independent Contractors or Employees, the IDG or the IAM will always be bringing app-based drivers together for fair pay and dignity on the job.