DelBene Introduces Gig Economy Legislation
WA Congresswoman teams up with VA Senator Mark Warner to spend $20 million on a grant fund for portable benefits for independent workforce
On Thursday, Washington Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, in a joint effort with Virginia Senator Mark Warner, introduced legislation to set up a $20 million labor department grant fund to test portable benefits for independent contractors, like Uber drivers.
In a statement, DelBene advocated for what she thinks is the importance of “access to benefits” for workers. “We need to support innovative policies that address the rapidly changing workforce to ensure we have an economy that works for everyone.”
This legislation comes at the same time that the city of Seattle is seeking to force local Uber and Lyft drivers to join the local Teamster union. In 2015, the Seattle City Council passed an ordinance that gave unions the ability to organize Uber and Lyft drivers. Independent contractors, such as drivers for these ride share drivers have not been permitted to unionize under federal law, but under pressure from local Teamsters, Seattle City Council passed the legislation. Following a lawsuit from 11 Uber and Lyft drivers in a partnership with the Washington Freedom Foundation and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction.
