Jamal is Fighting for Workers’ Rights & Dignified Wages for Rideshare Drivers!
Minneapolis City Council Members Osman, Wonsley and Chavez statement on Fair Drives, Safe Rides Policy
July 24, 2023 — Minneapolis, MN — CM Jamal Osman - along with Robin Wonsley (W2) and Jason Chavez (W9) - issued a joint statement today on moving forward a “Fair Drives, Safe Rides Policy” in Minneapolis.
The policy will protect basic workers’ rights and dignified wages for thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers - and was written in partnership with drivers, national experts, and city staff to ensure it is the strong policy drivers have been asking for and deserve.
CM Jamal Osman provided the following statement to the campaign for release:
Today, we are proud to move forward a policy that will protect basic workers’ rights and dignified wages for thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers. This legislation was written in partnership with drivers, national experts, and city staff to ensure it is the strong policy drivers have been asking for and deserve.
Rideshare driving is crucial work that keeps our city functioning, yet often drivers make far below the wages they need to support their families. Drivers provide their own car, gas, and insurance. They receive no employment benefits and have no guaranteed wage levels. Many riders and drivers have examples of the driver receiving a tiny share of what the rider paid. Drivers have stories of being assaulted, carjacked, or harassed by riders and receiving no help from the rideshare companies. Drivers also have their accounts deactivated by the rideshare companies without explanation or recourse, leaving the driver without a source of income.
A large majority of rideshare drivers in Minneapolis are workers of color, many of whom are East African. The lack of minimum wages and workers’ rights protections in the industry is a racial and economic justice failure that this policy will help correct.
Policy highlights:
• Guarantees drivers a minimum compensation of $0.51 per minute and $1.40 per mile that they have a rider in the vehicle, amounts that increase annually proportional to the city’s minimum wage.
• Removes the ability to pay for a ride with a gift card to increase accountability for rider misconduct.
• Establishes policies and timelines for why and how a company can deactivate a driver.
• Establishes rights and timelines for a driver to challenge a deactivation and legal representation in such challenges.
• Gives the city the authority to create and/or fund a nonprofit drivers resource center to support in education, advocacy, and legal representation for drivers.Sincerely,
Jamal Osman, Ward 6 Minneapolis City Council Member
Robin Wonsley, Ward 2 Minneapolis City Council Member
Jason Chavez, Ward 9 Minneapolis City Council Member
The full text of the policy is available here.
We invite everyone to learn more about the policy and share your feedback:
Info Sessions:
Riders: July 27th 6-7:30 at Minneapolis Public Service Building (505 4th Ave S.) Room 100
Drivers: August 2nd 6-7:30 at East Phillips Community Center (2307 17th Ave S.) Includes translation in Somali, Oromo, Amharic, and Spanish.
Everyone: August 3rd 6-7:30 at Minneapolis Public Service Building (505 4th Ave S.) Room 100, online, and recorded.
Public hearing: August 8th at 1:30pm at Minneapolis City Hall (350 4th St S) Room 317
Send comment to: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/meetings/public-comment/online-comment/ and refer to File Number 2023-00044
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Resources & Background
For more information about this policy, please visit:
City Council | Legislative File Link
Minnesota Reformer |“Minneapolis city council to consider new labor protections for Uber and Lyft drivers”
*For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Osman Volunteer Committee
Communications Lead
info@jamalosman.org