About Us
• About UIDA-N.T.A.
• What's N.T.A.?
• Why bother?
• Why not a union or trade association?
• Our mission
• Our goals
• Our game plan
About UIDA-N.T.A.
First, let's recognize that it's difficult to be all things to all people.
The gig delivery industry has many seemingly unrelated segments, from Amazon to Uber to DoorDash; drivers, customers, order handlers, and stores. Each segment experiences a variety of problematic issues. This matrix of issues inspires a myriad of possible solutions.
UIDA-N.T.A. will give voice to all segments, including the major apps that appear to be the objects of our grievances. Only by working together will we progress.
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UIDA-N.T.A. is an organization for people interested in the professionalism of the gig delivery industry.
• Drivers who plan to do gig work professionally
• Customers who plan to use the service perpetually
• Stores and order handlers who (personally) aim to please
• Apps that want to deal fairly
Emphasis on ethics, professionalism, and economic power.
• Ethics: This particular organization is interested in doing a good job, not to be ass-kissers but, because who doesn’t like a job well done?
• Professionalism: We endeavor to suss out Best Practices for our industry, like the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe program, but for the logistics of delivery.
• Economic Power: Together we bargain, individually we beg.
We encourage feedback and participation.
If you have thoughtful insights on the industry, please join our forums.
If you would like to contact us through email:
inquiries@uida-nta.com
What's N.T.A.?
We added NTA to the name to remind everyone (ourselves and the public) that we are not the assholes here. (link)
We're not all just out for ourselves. We take our role seriously, as a driver, customer, order handler, or app. We want to do a good job for the next guy down the line.
At the same time, we're not stooges.
We’re professionals, and expect the same of others.
Why Bother?
Things are not running smoothly in gig delivery.
• Customers experience wildly inconsistent service and exorbitant fees.
• Drivers experience long wait times, needy/inefficient apps, and awful addresses.
• Stores experience impatient drivers, and orders that never get picked up.
• The big apps’ fees border usury, yet driver pay is abysmal.
• The big apps, while a good foundation for the birth of the industry, are becoming antiquated.
• Lawsuits have been filed, and won, coast to coast by restaurants (fees/logos), drivers (compensation), and customers (price gouging)
Yet, there are still:
• customers who want to purchase
• stores who want to produce
• drivers who want to serve
• apps that want to facilitate
We can let others figure it out, people who don’t deal with the front lines everyday, or we can help the process ourselves. Do we want legislators making all the rules? Or do we want to provide them with some guidelines that we (as a community) decide by popular vote?
• Contractors – Do you want to be an employee or would you rather just have a fair contract?
• Order handlers – Would you like to have input into the design of the pickup process?
• Customers – Would you like to deal with couriers and stores that respect your purchase?
• All stakeholders - What do you consider a "fair" contract for your role?
Exactly.
So that’s why we created this organization.
Welcome.
Why not a union or trade association?
UIDA-N.T.A. endeavors to represent all segments of interested parties in the gig delivery industry: drivers, customers, order handlers, stores, and of course the major coordinating apps.
Not a Union
In the U.S., anyone can form a union. But to have it recognized by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), it would have to meet certain specific criteria. Generally being an "employee" is one requirement. Most gig delivery drivers are independent contractors.
https://guide.unitworkers.com/union-eligibility/
https://www.unionplus.org/page/what-union
https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law/employees/your-right-to-form-a-union
UIDA-N.T.A. would support the idea of a restaurant workers' union.
Not a Trade Association?
Considering our varied segments, we are more like a trade association - an organized group striving for the betterment of our entire industry.
The term "trade association" almost exactly describes UIDA-N.T.A.'s mission.
However, under U.S. federal law, trade associations are not allowed to influence prices and other economic metrics. This is also a major part of UIDA-N.T.A.'s mission.
Example: In food delivery, app fees are exorbitant for both customers and restaurants, yet driver-contractor pay is unconscionably low.
One of our biggest goals is addressing these imbalances.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_association
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/dealings-competitors/spotlight-trade
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gig-companies-cant-take-everyone-for-a-ride-11635602401
Juxtaposition
Although it's not yet clear what legal designation is most appropriate, what is clear is that the gig delivery industry is unbalanced to the point of the profit/benefits being largely one-sided.
It is up to us to demand better conditions and better contracts.
Role Models
Our role models include the OOIDA and the SOC. We're not exactly like either of those organizations, but they represent what we strive to accomplish. Of course we are not affiliated with either of these groups.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. More than 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Inc. is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators. (https://www.ooida.com/who-we-are/)
The Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) is a democratic coalition of four labor unions: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), Communications Workers of America (CWA) and United Farmworkers of America (UFW). Together, SOC-affiliated unions represent more than 4 million workers. The SOC is a labor union innovation center dedicated to improving the lives of working people, partnering with its affiliates to develop effective strategies to support workers organizing for better lives for themselves and their families. We stand against structural racism and fight not only for jobs, but good jobs: safe, equitable workplaces where all employees are respected, paid living wages and have real power at work. (https://thesoc.org/about/)
Our new organization endeavors to do for gig delivery what these two organizations have done for their respective industries.
Our mission
Organize the various segments of the gig delivery industry, so they may work together to bring about their goals for a fair market.
Our goal
Equalize and streamline the power between delivery apps, stores/employees, drivers, and customers, for the enrichment of all.
Our game plan
The UIDA-N.T.A. has only existed a short time, borne of watching everyone complain singularly about the same things.
We believe that hiring an attorney to write up our demands is key to being taken seriously.
We're in the exploratory phase currently. Without delay but without haste, members will subsequently vote on actions and then carry out those actions... be they lawsuits, strikes, mass arbitration filings, media blitzes, polite olive branches to major apps, or the creation of a new platform to align NTA workers and customers. (Some customers don't mind paying. Some workers don't mind working. Cut out the middleman. We could merge with a NTA small app. Presto? Sir, this is a Wendy's?)
In general our game plan includes:
• Short Term Goal – Take stock of the situation
• Short Term Goal – Notice for participants
• Short Term Goal – Survey and feedback
• Short Term Goal – Grow clout / PR
• Medium Term Goal – Vote which issues to pursue
• Medium Term Goal – Consult Experts
• Medium Term Goal – Vote proposed solutions / demands
• Long Term Goal – Systematically approach designated issues
• Long Term Goal – Customers satisfied, workers/apps satisfied
• Long Term Goal – Bulk discounts on insurance and equipment
Each facet of activism is discussed in our forums, and the best ideas will be highlighted.
Members can vote on which issues to pursue, how best to tackle the issues, and which actions to take.
(On the initial list of issues are: fair pay for drivers, fair fees for stores, better service for customers, and better conditions for workers of all flavors.)
Join Us
Discuss among peers, vote, and take action.
Your $15 annual membership fee helps us hire an attorney.
See more about membership here.