Sorry, I couldn't think of a better title.

I was reading a CNN article over the fluff between Uber and NY mayor de Blasio, and how they were trying to "one-up" each other, and the article made some pretty good points about these new businesses and how they operate within (and skirt around) current regulations.

Currently, based on how Uber, Lyft, AirBNB and other similar apps view their "employees," they don't have maintain any unemployment insurance, provide any benefits, pay overtime, etc...basically, they don't have to play by any of the rules set forth by labor boards across the country.

Part of me really wants to root for Uber and apps like them, for their ingenuity and innovation, but then again, like many innovators before them (Rockefeller, Carnegie, etc) since what they're doing is new, the government is slow to catch up, and workers can potentially get the short end of the stick. But I've also made my views known regarding unions, and I'm very anti-union. So I'm torn.

Thoughts? Should governments regulate these new businesses similar to how the old guard has been regulated?

The article, below, for reference:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/23/opinions/siegel-uber-de-blasio/index.html

7/24/2015 2:05:19 PM

There's a reason we have labor laws, history has shown countless times that workers will get exploited if there are no protections.

There's no reason Uber can't operate within the bounds of the law, while still being innovative and maintaining a high quality of service.

However, Uber's goal is to have self-driving cabs. Their strategy i suspect is to keep avoiding these costs until its irrelevant.

AirBNB is a little different, a lot of hotel regulations have nothing to do with worker or client safety, they're just there to line pockets, and these need to be reevaluated.

7/24/2015 2:12:51 PM

these sharing businesses take advantage of labor and are the natural product of the growing power of capital in this country. their employees are employees and labor protections should be extended to them.

if you want liberals to love and support something that goes against core liberal values, just wrap it up in a pretty app or move your office to a fancy converted warehouse with slides and shit and they won't care what you do

7/24/2015 2:17:38 PM

I'd be interested to know what Uber drivers here on TWW think about it.

7/24/2015 2:47:39 PM

I know a guy who drives Uber, has a CSC degree, otherwise, smart, but lost his job, and Uber was the easiest way for him to pay the bills while looking for a new job.

I genuinely don't know who Taxi laws would affect this type of employment. It seems like for someone driving for a few hours a week, for a few weeks at a time, it wouldn't really make a big difference.

7/24/2015 2:52:34 PM

other than working in corporate for a large corporation, I don't really get how anyone can be strongly anti-union

there's a difference in wanting reform and being completely against unions

7/24/2015 3:21:48 PM

Quote :

" I don't really get how anyone can be strongly anti-union there's a difference in wanting reform and being completely against unions "

With current wage laws, OSHA laws, etc Unions are largely obsolete.
I have worked in union and non-union plants as an engineer. For the most part unions encourage laziness and inefficiency. Often during business downturns we would have to let go a better mechanic/electrician because union rules mandated that we had to keep senior members. (This is one of many of the inconveniences that unions caused)

The irony is at the non-union plants the "technicians" who performed what would be a Operator (factory worker) actually got paid more.

I can see how bleeding hearts like TGL wouldn't understand this....

7/24/2015 6:54:13 PM

...or unions requiring that the company adhere to inefficient processes instead of eliminating obsolete/redundant/unneeded positions...

7/24/2015 10:07:25 PM

Is this like a W-2 vs 1099 thread?

7/25/2015 1:15:45 AM

With Uber and lyft specifically most if the push back is coming from angry taxi cartels. They don't like their government protected monopoly being threatened. If people were happy with cabs and enjoyed the service they were receiving Uber wouldn't exist.

New services will always crop up when the current model isn't providing what people want.

7/25/2015 6:01:38 AM

^

7/25/2015 8:15:30 AM

I use uber on occasion but would rather use a yellow taxi or car service. There are enough options in New York that the only people pissed are the medallion owners. There are several car services I've been using for the last 8 years I'd rather call bc I can go to their store front if something happens.

Airbnb is another issue. Most airbnb listings in NYC are illegal sublets and cause issues for paying tenants. It takes available apartments off the market and makes everyone deal with people who don't care about others around them. I dont mind it in theory but its used in a way that lowers actual residents quality of life.

7/25/2015 8:43:03 AM

I found your first problem:

Quote :

"I was reading a CNN article"

Your second:

Quote :

"Part of me really wants to root for Uber and apps like them, for their ingenuity and innovation"

Their marketing worked!


Your third:

Quote :

"Thoughts? Should governments regulate these new businesses similar to how the old guard has been regulated?"

You're accepting the form of the argument. Regulate business or not? A more compelling question is if the labor protections passed a century ago apply to contractors? If you destroy the middle class jobs and people are forced to take these positions to put food on the table.... I guess it's ok if they deliver my groceries.



[Edited on July 25, 2015 at 11:54 AM. Reason : a]

7/25/2015 11:46:53 AM