Hundreds of Uber and Lyft drivers gathered outside the Uber headquarters in Manhattan on July 14th, holding banners that read “Uber, Lyft, We Won’t Back Down” and “Respect Drivers,” while chanting slogans to protest against the two major platforms’ lawsuit against the New York City government to block the enforcement of Local Law 52, also known as the “Just Cause Termination Law,” scheduled to take effect on July 28.
Many drivers expressed that in addition to continuing to voice their concerns, they will also attend the oral arguments at the federal district court in downtown Manhattan this Thursday (16th) to show support for the law to come into effect as planned, as the court’s decision will directly impact nearly 100,000 Uber and Lyft drivers in the city.
The “Just Cause Termination Law” originated from City Council Intro 276, which was officially enacted after the City Council overturned former Mayor Adams’ veto in January. The law stipulates that platforms like Uber and Lyft must have just cause when taking disciplinary actions such as suspension or termination of drivers’ access to orders; except in cases of serious violations, the platforms must provide notice, a progressive disciplinary process, and an independent appeal mechanism.
However, Uber and Lyft have filed lawsuits to block the implementation of the law. The companies argue that they must retain the authority to manage drivers and maintain the operation to ensure passenger safety and privacy; they also claim that the law will increase administrative burdens and lead to excessive government intervention in platform operations, therefore requesting the court to temporarily suspend the law’s enforcement.
Supporters of the law, including drivers and labor groups, argue that currently, when platform drivers are suspended, they often do not know the reasons and lack effective channels for appeal, resulting in an immediate loss of income once their accounts are blocked.
Aver Lim, a former Uber driver, shared his experience of being permanently banned by Uber without investigation or a chance to defend himself after being accused by a passenger of taking a longer route during a rainstorm in the summer of 2017. Lim, who now works as a medical specialist vehicle driver for Access-A-Ride in New York City, highlighted the lack of a proper appeals process for drivers facing such situations.
Taxi drivers in yellow cabs who came to show support, like Cao Yaojun, mentioned that many Uber and Lyft drivers finance car purchases with loans. If they are suddenly suspended by the platform without warning, their income is immediately cut off, making it difficult for them to repay the loans or cover rent and household expenses. They hope that through legislation and judicial processes, drivers can secure basic work protections.
Bhairavi Desai, the Executive Director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), emphasized that the “Just Cause Termination Law” still allows platforms to immediately suspend drivers suspected of serious violations like violence, establishing a fundamental due process instead of depriving platforms of their managerial rights.
According to a study conducted by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) last year, over 70% of surveyed Uber and Lyft drivers reported receiving no prior notice before being suspended, and more than 90% said their accounts were not reinstated even after filing complaints.