Uber and Lyft threaten to leave Minneapolis

(15 Mar 2024)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER:4483542

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Minneapolis – 15 March 2024
1. People entering Uber/Lyft cars at airport
HEADLINE: Uber and Lyft threaten to leave Minneapolis
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jake Hay, Uber/Lyft customer: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
“Really the gut reaction is, well, great. And I got to drive and park at the airport more than I have in the past.”
3. Tight shot Uber/Lyft sign
ANNOTATION: Uber and Lyft have threatened to leave the Minneapolis market after the city enacted minimum pay standards effective May 1.
4. Wide people in waiting area
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Samanant Uber/Lyft customer: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
“How are we going to go out downtown? How are we gonna go out to dinner because we don't drink and drive. That would be the biggest impact.”
6. People entering Uber/Lyft cars at airport
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mary Clinton, Uber/Lyft customer: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
“There's nothing wrong with taxis. But sometimes our experience has been it might be a little more complicated to get a taxi.”
8. People entering Uber/Lyft cars at airport
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jake Hay, Uber/Lyft customer: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"If their excuse is that they can't, you know, can be competitive and and make the money that they've made in the past because they might have to pay their employees a fair living wage, No, I mean, get them out of here if that's the case.”
10. Closeup of phone with email from Lyft saying they’re leaving Minneapolis
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Suleman Mohamed, Uber/Lyft driver: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
“I do not believe that they are leaving. I don't believe that is the what they usually say. And but I'm not believing that they will leave.
12. Various cars and planes at airport
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Samanant Uber/Lyft customer: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
“I feel bad that because I feel for Uber and Lyft drivers. So I, I wish that they could come to a resolution where the drivers get more money.”
14. People entering Uber/Lyft cars at airport
STORYLINE:
Lyft and Uber are threatening to halt operations in Minneapolis because of a city ordinance to increase wages for app-based drivers, the latest back-and-forth that underscores a longtime fight between gig economy workers and the tech giants.

The city council vote Thursday overrode the mayor's veto, so ride-hailing companies must pay drivers the equivalent of the local minimum wage of $15.57 an hour. It's not the first time members of the city council have advocated for a driver pay raise, nor is it an effort exclusive to the city — or the state.
Here's what to know about the Minneapolis driver minimum wage and other gig worker negotiations across the country:

WHAT DOES THE ORDINANCE DO?
The City Council’s measure passed in a 9-4 vote despite Mayor Jacob Frey’s promise to veto. The measure requires ride-hailing companies to pay drivers at least $1.40 per mile and $0.51 per minute for the time spent transporting a rider — or $5 per ride, whichever is greater — excluding tips.
In the event of a multi-city trip, that only applies to the portion that takes place within Minneapolis.
Members of the city council celebrated the measure as a way of prioritizing worker’s rights over corporate greed.
“This is a David and Goliath story,” Robin Wonsley, who helped author the policy, said in a statement. “Regular working-class people took on two corporate giants and their political allies, and won.”
Council member Jamal Osman said the measure prohibits the companies from exploiting the city’s East African community for cheap labor.








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