Connect with us

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Top Court Clears Way for Voter Decision on Gig Driver Classification

Published

on

Massachusetts Top Court Clears Way for Voter Decision on Gig Driver Classification


Massachusetts’ top court has paved the way for voters to decide the classification of gig drivers for app-based companies such as Uber Technologies and Lyft. On Thursday, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rejected a labor-supported challenge to a proposal backed by an industry coalition to classify these drivers as independent contractors. This classification would grant drivers certain new benefits without recognizing them as legal employees.

According to Reuters, the court will allow a competing ballot measure that aims to permit these drivers to unionize to proceed. The decision arrives just before closing arguments on Friday in an ongoing lawsuit brought by the state’s Democratic attorney general. The lawsuit accuses Uber and Lyft of misclassifying their drivers as contractors rather than employees for several years.

If the industry loses both in court and at the ballot box, Uber and Lyft could face significant changes to their business models. Lawyers representing Uber and Lyft have warned that such changes could force the companies to reduce or even cease operations in Massachusetts. To support the ballot proposal that would solidify drivers’ status as contractors under state law, Uber, Lyft, and app-based delivery services like Instacart and DoorDash have invested millions of dollars.

Read more: Uber Raises Minimum Wage for Drivers in France Amid Gig Economy Regulation

Advertisement

Studies indicate that using contractors can reduce costs for companies by as much as 30% compared to hiring employees. The ballot measure committee Flexibility and Benefits for Massachusetts Drivers, which includes contributions from the four ride-share companies, is also proposing to set an earnings floor for app-based drivers. Additionally, the proposal includes provisions for healthcare stipends, occupational accident insurance, and paid sick leave.

Meanwhile, a separate proposed ballot measure, backed by the Service Employees International Union’s Local 32BJ, seeks voter approval to allow Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize. This dueling measure highlights the ongoing debate over worker rights and classification in the gig economy.

Source: Reuters



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Massachusetts

‘Oh, God! Oh, God!’: Massachusetts couple frightened by huge shark by their boat (WATCH)

Published

on

‘Oh, God! Oh, God!’: Massachusetts couple frightened by huge shark by their boat (WATCH)


A Massachusetts couple, out boating, were startled and frightened by a 20-foot shark this week.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

One started videotaping the experience, while the shark came close to the boat.

“Oh, God!, Oh God!” the woman said.

Advertisement

The main responded, “Wow!”

Because the fish was so big, the woman, at first, thought it was a whale, but the man said, “No, that is a shark.”

“That is a shark like I’ve never seen,” said the woman after realizing it was indeed a shark.

The shark swam toward the boat, before the video ends.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Massachusetts

Gov. Healey’s southern border trip cost taxpayers $6,800, according to new data

Published

on

Gov. Healey’s southern border trip cost taxpayers $6,800, according to new data


The Healey administration shelled out more than $6,800 to send a five-person team to the southern border in Texas to “educate” people of a shelter shortage here, according to her office.

The trip was pitched as another attempt to curtail the number of migrants arriving in Massachusetts and make connections with federal immigration officials who were dealing with a surge in border crossings down south.

A spokesperson for the governor said Friday the group spent a total of $6,804 on the four-day trip this week, including $2,028 on hotels, $3,903 on flights, and $872 on ground transportation.

Scott Rice, a retired National Guard general who oversees the state-run shelter system, said the trip was an “important opportunity to meet with families arriving in the U.S. and the organizations that work with them at the border to make sure they have accurate information about the lack of shelter space in Massachusetts.”

Advertisement

“It is essential that we get the word out that our shelters are full so that families can plan accordingly to make sure they have a safe place to go,” he said in a statement earlier this week.

The group visited locations in San Antonio, McAllen, Hidalgo, and Brownsville, the most common points of entry for migrant families that later arrive in Massachusetts, according to the Healey administration.

Healey said earlier this week that the trip was “successful” even as conservatives criticized the move as a “publicity stunt.”

“We don’t have housing available right now, and we wanted to be really clear. It’s something I’ve been saying for a long time, but I think it was important that we be able to communicate directly with folks on the ground,” she said. “I think it’s successful. I think it’s important that we be out there with that message.”

Details on how much the trip cost were released only hours after Gov. Maura Healey banned migrants from sleeping at Logan Airport, where large groups have gathered for months to stay overnight.

Advertisement

The directive takes effect July 9 and the state plans to offer people at the airport transportation to overflow shelter sites, including one that opened this week at a former prison in Norfolk.

Healey did not say if police would arrest those that violate the order.

“We’re going to take it as it comes. My hope is through the work that we’re doing and the extensive communication that we’re doing right now with folks, not just at the border, but folks who are in our service provider community, that we’re going to get people relocated,” she said Friday, “and also be clear to people who might think about coming here that this really is an option.”



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Massachusetts

Massachusetts gas prices fell from last week: See how much here

Published

on

Massachusetts gas prices fell from last week: See how much here


Massachusetts gas prices fell for the second consecutive week and reached an average of $3.40 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, down from last week’s price of $3.44 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average fuel price in the state has fallen about 11 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $3.07 on Jan. 29 and as high as $3.76 on Aug. 7, 2023.

A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 3% higher at $3.51 per gallon.

Advertisement

>> INTERACTIVE: See how your area’s gas prices have changed over the years at data.capecodtimes.com.

The average gas price in the United States last week was $3.44, making prices in the state about 1% lower than the nation’s average. The average national gas price is up from last week’s average of $3.44 per gallon.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Please leave any feedback or corrections for this story here. This story was written by Ozge Terzioglu.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending