Q&A
Lack of collective bargaining rights for drivers
1:02:01
·
88 sec
Bhairavi Desai discusses the lack of collective bargaining rights for drivers, explaining that they are not considered employees under the National Labor Relations Board. She emphasizes the need for basic due process protections in the absence of these rights.
- Drivers do not have access to collective bargaining rights
- The absence of these rights allows for the existence of company unions in the industry
- Desai argues for the need for basic due process protections to uphold American values and worker rights
- She highlights the severe impact of job loss, likening it to 'capital punishment' in the labor movement
Bhairavi Desai
1:02:01
Lastly, you know, drivers have not been found to be employees under the National Labor Relations Board, and so do not have access to collective bargaining.
1:02:11
And it's one of the reasons that a company union is allowed to exist in this industry Otherwise, of course, you know, IDG and other any other company union would actually be considered illegal under the law.
1:02:23
And in the absence of collective bargaining and in the presence of city regulation and expenses borne by the drivers, there must be a basic sense of due process that upholds its very basic American values that protect all of us as Americans, that protect us as workers.
1:02:47
We have a right to be presumed to be innocent, even by corporations that have a sword hanging over our necks you know, in in the form of taking our jobs away.
1:02:59
In the labor movement, there's an old saying that a loss of job is like capital punishment because that's truly what it feels like, especially for a workforce with no guaranteed income.
1:03:11
In this summer with lockouts.
1:03:13
Can you imagine drivers lost 1000 of dollars throughout this summer?
1:03:19
And then to go through a deactivation now, you've had no savings, nothing to take care of your life.
1:03:26
I mean, this is an incredible crisis.