The Independent Drivers Guild Thanks City Leaders for Listening to Drivers

New York, New York – New York’s Uber and Lyft drivers will soon be receiving a much needed pay raise. The Independent Drivers Guild, which represents the city’s 80,000 Uber and Lyft drivers, urged the city to raise the minimum pay rates in the face of soaring expenses and gas prices the last two years. Today, the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission voted to approve the increase to minimum driver pay, raising per minute pay by 7.42 percent and per mile pay (which reflects per mile expenses) by 23.93 percent. (See TLC slides below)

“Gas prices and expenses have soared the last two years, and rideshare drivers are struggling to make ends meet. This increase to the minimum pay is critical and an important step to protect the 80,000 rideshare drivers who keep our city moving. We want to thank the Taxi and Limousine Commission staff, Commissioner Do and the Adams Administration for listening to drivers and taking action,” said Brendan Sexton, President of the Independent Drivers Guild. 

In a hearing last month, the Independent Drivers Guild shared the results of a survey of more than 1,100 Uber and Lyft drivers. The Guild found that nine in ten drivers have trouble paying their monthly bills. Other findings include:

• Over 90 percent of drivers say that Uber and Lyft don’t pay them enough to survive.
• Nearly 80 percent of drivers have trouble paying their rent or mortgage.
• Two thirds of drivers have trouble making car payments, paying credit card bills, and affording vehicle insurance.
• Over 50 percent of drivers struggle to afford food.
• Nearly 75 percent of drivers have children to support with their earnings.

The Guild also applauded the city for adopting the Guild’s recommendation to set an industry-wide rate, removing the financial incentive for rideshare app companies to manipulate driver access to the app and lock drivers out of the app in order to reduce driver pay.

The Independent Drivers Guild is a Machinists Union affiliate that represents and advocates for more than 250,000 drivers across NY, NJ, CT, MA, and IL. We are Uber and Lyft workers united for a fair industry. The Guild’s organizing has secured landmark victories that put billions of dollars in the pockets of drivers, including requiring a tipping option in the Uber app and winning the nation’s first minimum wage (after expenses) for rideshare drivers in New York City.

Driver Pay Proposal:

Proposal Impacts:

Contact: Moira@DrivingGuild.org