The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes to the gig economy, prompting workers like Joshua Wood to advocate for better conditions. As a delivery worker in New York City, Wood experienced firsthand the challenges faced by gig workers during the lockdown when the streets were empty, and the demand for delivery services surged. This experience led him to join the labor group Los Deliveristas Unidos to fight for better benefits for gig workers.
According to a 2021 report by the Pew Research Center, approximately 1 in 6 American adults have engaged in gig work for platforms like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash. While these jobs offer flexibility and a low barrier to entry, they often pay less than the prevailing minimum wage and lack essential protections such as overtime, sick pay, and unemployment insurance. This disparity has fueled a growing movement for better rights and benefits for gig workers across the country.
In response to the advocacy efforts of workers like Wood, New York City passed legislation guaranteeing a minimum wage and other benefits for app-based food deliverers. This move has inspired other communities and jurisdictions to consider similar protections for gig workers. Over the past five years, lawmakers in cities like Chicago and Seattle, as well as states such as Colorado, Connecticut, and Minnesota, have proposed new regulations to improve the working conditions of ride-share drivers and food delivery workers.
The push for better rights for gig workers comes amidst a broader global reconsideration of labor rights in the age of the gig economy. Countries like Australia and the European Union have taken steps to strengthen workplace protections for gig workers, while the U.S. Department of Labor is expected to finalize a new rule that may reclassify some gig workers as employees as early as October.
However, gig companies vehemently oppose efforts to reclassify gig workers, arguing that it would jeopardize worker flexibility and independence, as well as increase consumer costs. Despite these challenges, advocacy organizations and lawmakers are pushing for legislation that establishes minimum wages, mandates paid sick leave, and provides other essential protections for gig workers.
In cities like Seattle and Chicago, significant victories have been achieved in the form of minimum pay floors for ride-share drivers and app-based delivery workers. These victories demonstrate the power of collective action and advocacy in improving the working conditions of gig workers. While gig companies continue to resist change, workers and their allies are determined to fight for their rights.
As the gig economy continues to evolve, lawmakers will need to make difficult trade-offs to ensure that gig workers are afforded the protections and benefits they deserve. By learning from successful models like the portable benefits program in Washington state, where gig workers are eligible for paid sick leave and workers’ compensation, legislators can work towards a more equitable future for all workers in the gig economy. Despite the challenges ahead, the momentum for change is growing, and gig workers are increasingly gaining the support they need to secure better rights and protections.
