State of Industry
• Gig delivery is huge
• Drivers are unhappy and have sued (and won)
• Customers are unhappy and have sued (and won)
• Restaurants are unhappy and have sued (and won)
• What experts say about the future of gig delivery
• Trade publications (list)
• Current Activism
Gig Delivery is Huge
In 2020, Uber has 93 million users, 3.5 million drivers, and $11 billion net revenue on $26 billion.
NYC had 80,000 ride-share drivers as of 2019, and 13,500 taxicabs.
In September 2021, 50% of U.S. consumers had ever ordered [from one of the mainstream food delivery services], up from 44% a year ago.
DoorDash has 18 million users, 45% of the US food delivery market, and partners with 390,000 stores/ restaurants.
Drivers Are Unhappy and Have Sued
DoorDash has agreed to a $100 million settlement benefiting drivers who delivered through the DoorDash app in California and Massachusetts who claim they were improperly classified as contractors.
Amazon To Pay $61.7 Million to Settle FTC Charges It Withheld Some Customer Tips from Amazon Flex Drivers
In the wake of Uber’s $100 million settlement with drivers in California and Massachusetts, drivers in Illinois and Florida have fied their own claims that the car-service provider violates federal wage laws by misclassifying them as independent contractors.
Postmates Settles Lawsuit for Nearly $1 Million Over Alleged Violations of Paid Sick Leave Rule
Customers Are Unhappy and Have Sued
DoorDash agreed in November 2020 to pay $2.5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it misled customers about its tipping policy for drivers.
Uber and Lyft Face Nearly 1,000 Sexual Assault Claims Against Their Drivers
The City of Chicago filed two sweeping lawsuits against DoorDash and Grubhub for allegedly deceiving customers and using unfair business practices.
Uber overcharging disabled users, Justice Department says in lawsuit
Restaurants Are Unhappy and Have Sued
Grubhub reached a settlement in April 2021 in a class-action lawsuit, which accused the third-party marketplace of creating "misleading pages" on its app and website for non-partnered restaurants that may cause consumer confusion, according to court documents.
Manhattan Bakery Accuses Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats of Illegal Fees A lawsuit says the ordering and delivery platforms levy charges beyond what New York City law allows
Trade Publications
These are just a few popular choices, in no particular order.
If you have suggestions, please email: inquiries@uida-nta.com
Courier Magazine
https://www.couriermagazine.com/
TLC Magazine Online
http://tlc-mag.com
The Rideshare Guy
https://therideshareguy.com/
Ridester.com
https://www.ridester.com/
PMQ Pizza Magazine
https://www.pmq.com/
The Gig-Zine
https://www.gig-zine.com/
National Restaurant Association
https://restaurant.org/
IRS: Deducting Business Expenses
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/deducting-business-expenses
Expert Opinion on Gig Economy
What do the experts say?
At time of web-page publication, these references seem reputable and timely. If you have suggestions please email: inquiries@uida-nta.com
The Context: The Gig Economy and the Future of Work
Why The Gig Economy Will Drive The Future Of Employment
COVID and the Gig Economy – By the Numbers
Academics are trying to fix the last mile gig economy The future is gig work – but the system is currently broken. Solutions are coming from academia
Delivery Pending: Making The Gig Economy Work For Everyone
Gig Companies Can’t Take Everyone for a Ride
Current Activism
At time of web-page publication, these references seem reputable and timely. If you have suggestions please email: inquiries@uida-nta.com
Breaking News:
Labor strikes are erupting all over this holiday season.
11/25/21
Amazon’s Next Crisis—Global Protests And Strikes On Black Friday
https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2021/11/25/amazon-prepares-for-next-crisis---a-global-strike-by-workers-on-black-friday/
11/21/21
Gopuff workers plan to strike, demanding better pay and protection from deactivation
https://www.phillyvoice.com/gopuff-workers-plan-begin-strike-week/
11/02/21
3 reasons labor strikes are surging right now — and why they could continue to grow
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/02/1051112806/strikes-labor-great-resignation-covid
Breaking News:
Most recent legal decision.
11/23/21
SOLIDARITY ALERT: Big Win for DoorDash Workers in San Francisco
DoorDash workers in San Francisco will receive restitution from $5.13 million dollar settlement. The settlement, which benefits at least 4,000 delivery workers, stems from an investigation initiated by the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement in the City and County of San Francisco
https://www.ifpte.org/news/solidarity-alert-big-win-for-doordash-workers-in-san-francisco-1
Chicago is looking at DoorDash and GrubHub
08/27/21
Chicago Sues Grubhub and DoorDash for Allegedly Scamming Basically Everyone: Restaurants, Drivers, and Customers
https://chicago.eater.com/2021/8/27/22644787/chicago-grubhub-doordash-lawsuit-third-party-delivery
The Feds are looking at Uber
11/10/21
U.S. [Justice Department] sues Uber, saying it discriminated against people with disabilities.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/10/technology/doj-uber-suit-disabilities.html
Drivers in NYC want to unionize
11/05/21
Thousands of Amazon workers in NYC want a union. Will they win?
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thousands-of-amazon-workers-in-nyc-are-trying-to-unionize-can-they-win-144314385.html
Other groups want to organize without a union
(ongoing)
Make Amazon Pay
"We are workers and activists divided by geography and our role in the global economy but united in our commitment to Make Amazon Pay fair wages, its taxes and for its impact on the planet."
https://makeamazonpay.com/
(ongoing)
UberDriveUnion
"THIS IS NOT A UNION FORMING MOVEMENT. We are a group of uber drivers who are looking to call out Uber’s shady business tactics via a viral flash mob on Twitter @UnionEats #FuckUber."
https://www.reddit.com/r/uberdriveunion/
(ongoing)
UIDA-N.T.A.
"UIDA-N.T.A. endeavors to organize individuals in the gig delivery industry, to equalize power and streamline best practices. We help small factions leverage the strength of working in concert."
https://www.uida-nta.com/
(you're here - welcome!)
It's a movement
10/28/21
Workers Are Rising Up Across the Nation. It's Time for America to Listen
https://www.newsweek.com/workers-are-rising-across-nation-its-time-america-listen-opinion-1643206
In the long run: The California Case takes another turn
This article gives a good history of the biggest case in gig history.
08/25/21
Court Rules Measure That Keeps Certain Gig Workers as Contractors Is Unconstitutional
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/employment-labor/1029968-court-rules-measure-that-keeps-certain-gig-workers-as-contractors-is-unconstitutional/
Lawsuits everywhere
This one doesn't have a link. There are too many! There is no one central repository for lists of current lawsuits and previous settlements against all gig industry players, for all the different aspects from wages to intellectual property to restaurant logos.
We attempted to create a list ourselves but there are thousands of lawsuits against every major gig app... from drivers, customers, stores, and governments. Complaints include thousands of wage theft suits, hundreds of unfair business practices suits, and thousands of sexual assault complaints. That's not all. Software companies have sued apps regarding intellectual property. Restaurants have sued apps regarding logos. In turnabout, apps have sued municipalities regarding limits on fees they can charge. When the aggrieved strike out, the apps strike back.
The gig delivery industry has a muddy legal history, and its ongoing.
We will continue to work on a comprehensive list of past and present lawsuits and settlements. (But it won't be finished today.)
Check out the forums for a beginner's list.
Supreme Court will soon decide an important case not for gigs but for arbitration vs lawsuits
09/28/21
High Court Mulls Gig Work, Union Fights, Lawyers’ Right to Sue
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/high-court-mulls-gig-work-union-fights-lawyers-right-to-sue
11/18/21
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Arbitration Case Involving Wage Issues
https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/supreme-court-will-hear-arbitration-case-wage-harm.aspx