Two former New York Uber drivers are to be considered employees and not independent contractors as a result of a state Department of Labor ruling making them eligible for unemployment benefits, it was revealed Wednesday.
A lawsuit by the the New York Taxi Workers Alliance had spurred the department to make a ruling.
Uber had argued the drivers were independent contractors and thus the company did not have to contribute to unemployment or worker-compensation insurance funds, or guarantee a minimum wage, the alliance said Wednesday.
The alliance has scheduled a press conference for Thursday outside the Department of Labor’s Manhattan office to call for a comprehensive audit of Uber.