SEATTLE - The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed legislation that would guarantee a minimum wage for app-based delivery drivers and gig workers, making it the first city in the nation to do so.Currently, drivers for organizations like UberEats, Grubhub and DoorDash get paid per ride, plus tips.
The legislation passed, introduced by Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Andrew Lewis, would set a minimum wage for those drivers at $17/hour. "We live in an expensive city; many delivery workers earn below the minimum wage after expenses and tips are accounted for," said Herbold. "App-based work is one of the fastest-growing sectors of our economy with more workers turning to this type of work.
The passage of this legislation will help tens of thousands of delivery workers make ends meet while maintaining their flexibility."The legislation, dubbed PayUp Seattle, also prevents gig companies from penalizing workers in any way based on which jobs they choose to accept and reject, or which hours they are available for work.