For Uber, Lawsuits in Seattle and New York Drag On

Seattle Uber drivers will not be allowed to unionize yet, but the legal battle between the city and the transportation network company continues. "A federal judge put an indefinite hold on a Seattle ordinance that gives for-hire drivers used by Uber, Lyft, and other ride-sharing apps the right to vote to unionize for collective bargaining, even though those drivers are categorized as independent contractors and not traditional employees," Jack Denton writes for Pacific Standard. The freeze is likely to stay in place until the conclusion of an antitrust lawsuit in front of the Chamber of Commerce. The city of Seattle could also appeal the judge's decision.

Meanwhile in New York, "Uber is facing a separate federal antitrust suit," Denton writes. This lawsuit alleges that as private contractors, Uber's drivers are being forced to fix prices by the company. The southern district of New York argues, "If Uber is merely selling an app that allows independent drivers to find customers, then it is a violation of the Sherman Act — price-fixing — for Uber and its drivers to implicitly conspire to charge certain prices."