Gig workers are pushing forward actions to be paid fairly. Politicians have been put on notice. Seattle City Council is considering a proposal that would require certain companies offering gig work jobs over online platforms to provide a minimum pay rate, dependent on factors including time and mileage.
The group is organized and looking to take action. Gig workers with Working Washington plan to hold demonstrations to push council members to take action. Currently, it is just a proposal. Gig workers organizing through Working Washington shared their experiences with council members, hoping to pass a series of legislation impacting work conditions.
New online realities have created new concerns. The law requires Food Delivery Network Companies (FDNCs) to pay gig workers amounts of premium pay for online orders that have a pick-up or drop-off point in Seattle. FDNCs include companies that offer prearranged food, beverage, or grocery delivery services for compensation using an online or cellphone application to connect customers with delivery workers (“gig workers”). To be covered by this law, the company must hire at least 250 or more gig workers worldwide.
There are a number of points included. A gig worker must receive at least $2.50 of premium pay per order, where there is either a pick-up or drop-off in Seattle. A worker is also owed the following additional amounts if applicable to that same online order:
-$1.25 for each additional pick-up point in Seattle
-$1.25 for each additional drop-off point in Seattle
Food Delivery Network Companies must:
-Pay premium pay at the same time compensation is provided for the rest of the order
-Identify which orders qualified for premium pay
Separately itemize premium pay
Clark Allen, a supporter of the proposal and gig employee who depends on a mix of work from Uber Eats and DoorDash said, “We just need to feel like our job is stable, that there’s at least a minimum income that we can make.”
Working Washington, an advocate organization says the proposal is “the result of months of stakeholder meetings championed by City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, as well as deep organizing and community engagement led by workers with Working Washington’s PayUp campaign.” Under the legislation, gig employers in Seattle would be subject to a roster of requirements including paying gig workers at least the city’s minimum wage for time spent waiting on apps for job assignments.
