Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale issued the following statement as Uber and Lyft drivers in Milwaukee protest recent state legislative action that would reclassify drivers as independent contractors. Senate Bill 256 / Assembly Bill 269 passed both houses of the legislature and will be sent to Governor Tony Evers:
“Uber and Lyft drivers in Milwaukee are standing together to raise concerns about workplace conditions, fair pay, and protections on the job. Earlier today, drivers held a press conference to announce a work stoppage and strike for better working conditions.
In the wake of recent state legislative action that would strip app-based transportation and delivery drivers of employee status and reclassify drivers as independent contractors, workers are sounding the alarm on how this change would negatively impact workplace protections like minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and worker’s compensation.
The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is proud to stand with and support Uber and Lyft drivers as they call for better pay, additional support, and to remain employees of rather than independent contractors for Big Tech companies.
The emergence of the gig economy has created a situation that many employers have exploited to misclassify workers as independent contractors, in an attempt to deprive workers of important rights to which employees are entitled, including worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, minimum wage, and overtime pay. Our labor rights and employment protections are the product of many years of struggle by the labor movement and must not be stripped away simply because the modalities of doing business have changed.”
