PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Raul Rivera, TLC Driver and Driver Advocate
0:59:12
·
71 sec
Raul Rivera, a TLC driver and advocate with over 23,000 trips, testified about issues with ride-hailing apps in New York City. He emphasized the lack of respect for drivers' status as independent contractors and the problem of unfair deactivations. Rivera called for the elimination of these apps, citing exploitation of workers, particularly people of color and those with language barriers.
- Highlighted a case where a driver with 29,000 trips was deactivated after one complaint
- Criticized elected officials like Brad Lander and Jessica Ramos for disrespecting drivers' independent contractor status
- Announced plans to testify in Congress about the NYC Council's failure to protect workers
Raul Rivera
0:59:12
afternoon.
0:59:13
My name is Raul Rivera.
0:59:14
I'm a TLC driver and a TLC driver advocate with over 23,000 trips.
0:59:19
One of the main problems we have here in the city with these apps is that our status as independent contractors are not being respected.
0:59:27
When you have elected officials like Brad Lander and Jessica Ramos disrespecting the status, you're gonna get deactivations time and again.
0:59:36
I know I personally know a driver that almost hit 29,000 trips.
0:59:42
29,000 trips with Uber, not easy to do.
0:59:45
One complaint, and he was deactivated.
0:59:48
We ask that New York City eliminate these apps.
0:59:52
They're exploiting people of color.
0:59:54
They're exploiting workers with a language barrier.
0:59:58
It's been more than a decade that Uber's been around.
1:00:01
We asked at the committee on transportation to remove Uber.
1:00:05
We asked the taxi and the machine commission to remove Uber.
1:00:09
Better pay is always good, but the status is not respected.
1:00:13
And that's what's going on here.
1:00:15
We're gonna make our way down to Washington DC, and we're gonna testify in congress.
1:00:20
And we're gonna let them know that this council is not protecting workers.
