The City Council unanimously approved the resolution on Monday, according to USA Today. The decision was met with much joy from drivers for the ridesharing companies, but not from the city’s mayor, Ed Murray, who says he will refuse to sign the law.
Unfortunately for Murray, in the end it will not matter, due to the fact that the city council made the decision unanimously, they would be able to override any veto of the law, according to Business Insider.
With the new bill, Lyft and Uber drivers in Seattle will be allowed to join a “Driver Representative Organization.” If enough drivers join, a representative would be allow to participate in collective bargaining for things like minimum wage and benefits.
Business Insider quoted Mike O’Brien, who first proposed the law, as saying, “Today, we set an example for how cities across the country can work to ensure safe, reliable transportation and basic worker protections in our current legal landscape,”
Although many drivers are thrilled with the news, Vox argues that in the end this may have negative effects on the drivers, explaining that a better situation for drivers will cause more drivers to join the service, therefore limiting the amount of money to be made since they will be competing for the same customers.
