TESTIMONY
Testimony by Hayley Prim from Uber: Discussing Worker Safety and New Regulations
1:58:08
·
154 sec
Hayley Prim from Uber testifies on preconceived introduction 7268, expressing lingering concerns about bills that might impact delivery worker flexibility and access.
Despite issues with the wage roll structure reducing flexibility, she acknowledges positive changes like the guaranteed minimum wage and expense allocations for workers.
Prim highlights Uber's successful partnerships with Zumo and Equitable Commit Project to improve safety and proposes broader regulations to level the playing field across delivery services.
Speaker 35
1:58:08
Good afternoon, council members, and thank you for the opportunity to comment.
1:58:11
I'm Hailey Prem.
1:58:12
I'm here from Uber and Uber Eats.
1:58:15
I'm focusing my testimony today on preconceived introduction 7268.
1:58:20
Uber last testified before this committee on these same bills in October, and all of the concerns we raised in still stand.
1:58:26
However, in the last 3 months, we've seen major changes for delivery workers, positive progress in our own partnerships, and announcements from this administration that it should all impact how we think about these issues related to expenses and worker safety moving forward.
1:58:40
On December 4th, a guaranteed minimum wage, which was established by the DCWP, went into effect for all workers who deliver on 3rd party delivery platforms.
1:58:50
While we have significant concerns with the way it chose to structure the wage roll because it reduces flexibility, and access
Speaker 1
1:58:57
We've got testimony now.
1:58:58
I'm gonna ask any conversations we've taken outside.
1:59:01
Thank you.
Speaker 35
1:59:04
It reduces workers flexibility and ability to access the app as they choose.
1:59:07
The standard does include an expense allocation for the very items that these bills are designed to cover.
1:59:13
This is not inferred, but it's explicit in the study released by the DCWP in November 2022, which is the basis of the rule.
1:59:21
It's enumerated in the final rule itself, which was published in June 2023.
1:59:26
And commissioner Mayuga even touted this as the opening line of an op bed she offered in July celebrating the new standard, saying the city's new minimum pay rate for app based restaurant delivery workers will have thousands of working workers and their families out of poverty and help them to afford safer equipment and cover medical expenses.
1:59:45
Based on data from December 4th to January 2021, which is the first 7 weeks, the standard was in effect.
1:59:52
We've calculated that over 1500 delivery workers have already earned more than $500 towards expenses.
1:59:58
And this is just on the Uber Eats app alone.
2:00:02
In January, we've seen more positive progress through the partnerships Uber has launched last year with Zumo and Equitable Commit Project.
2:00:11
Since launching, these programs have been successful in getting 100 of individuals.
Speaker 1
2:00:16
Okay.
2:00:16
I'm gonna ask you to wrap up and submit your testimony in writing.
2:00:19
Okay.
Speaker 35
2:00:21
Partnerships are growing to get workers on Yale certified by.
2:00:24
And we hope to see you would target resources that way.
2:00:27
And we also wanted to further discuss the mayor's announcement to create a new office of singable delivery, which would broaden these regulations to all micro mobility companies, grocery services, restaurants, which we think is important to level the playing field.
Speaker 1
2:00:41
Okay.
2:00:41
Thank you.
