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Uber, Doordash, and other gig workers in Seattle may be about to face a pay reckoning

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Uber, Doordash, and other gig workers in Seattle may be about to face a pay reckoning


Since January, gig delivery workers in Seattle have been reaping the benefits of a local law mandating a certain pay level. Just months later, they could see their incomes cut under proposed revisions.

PayUp, which took effect in the city in January, requires DoorDash, Uber, Instacart, Grubhub, and other delivery apps to pay independent contractors the equivalent of the city’s $19.97 minimum wage — a rule that the app companies have opposed.

But CB 120775, a proposal introduced last month by Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson, would lower the minimum pay for drivers and roll back protections for workers, according to a draft of the legislation.

Under the proposal, gig workers would be paid an hourly rate of $19.97 for their time spent retrieving and delivering orders. While that seems consistent with Seattle’s minimum wage for employees, the gig workers covered by the PayUp law are only paid for “active time” spent working on orders — meaning that time spent trying to claim an order is uncompensated. They’re also responsible for their own costs, such as gas.

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Those aspects of the job had led Seattle’s city council to create a system that pays workers based on the miles they drive and the minutes they spend on the job. PayUp also demands that no offer pays less than $5.

The latest proposal would do away with that $5 minimum and the per-minute payment. Instead, gig workers would get paid 35 cents per mile — down from the current 74 cents.

It would also eliminate or cut back other protections for gig workers in the city. For example, a PayUp rule giving workers two minutes to review an order before accepting it would shrink to 45 seconds.

The bill is scheduled for a committee vote on Thursday. If it passes, the proposal could face a vote by the full Council on May 21.

‘That makes a difference’

If that vote passes, the bill will result in a significant pay cut for gig workers, according to estimates released Monday by Working Washington, a group that advocated for PayUp. For example, a gig worker who spent five hours of active time and drove 32 miles would make $15.81 an hour — below the city’s minimum wage — after accounting for expenses, they calculated.

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Hourly pay would be even lower — $13.17 — after accounting for the time that a gig worker would likely spend on the apps just to find and claim orders, according to the study.

Justin Taylor, who has delivered and driven for multiple apps in Seattle over the last four years, said his pay has increased by $100 a week on average since PayUp went into effect — even though he’s delivering fewer orders than he did before the law.

“That makes a difference,” he told BI. “It allowed me to do things like install new front brakes on my car.”

If the proposal before Seattle’s City Council becomes law, Taylor said, he’ll once again be reliant on customers’ tips to cover his expenses and make money working for services like DoorDash.

The delivery companies have made it clear that they oppose the changes that took effect in January. In emails and calls to action sent to gig workers, DoorDash, Instacart, Uber, and others have claimed that there are fewer orders for gig workers to claim.

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Some shoppers for Instacart have also had to drive miles out of their way to deliver orders in Seattle’s suburbs as the company routed them to stores outside city limits.

Seattle City Council President Nelson did not respond to a request for an interview from Business Insider. In a hearing on the bill on April 25, Nelson said that she had worked with some of the delivery companies as well as Drive Forward, a group whose leadership includes multiple current and former employees for Uber and DoorDash, to draft the bill.

“I want to make sure that people realize this was an agreement that was forged between Drive Forward and the network companies,” she told the Council.

A DoorDash spokesperson told BI: “Predictably, Working Washington’s opposition to this proposal is not rooted in reality. The proposed law guarantees Dashers will earn nearly $20 per hour on delivery in addition to mileage and tips. We’re grateful that Council President Nelson and Drive Forward were able to reconvene stakeholders and reach a compromise that better serves Dashers, local businesses, and consumers in Seattle.”

A spokesperson for Instacart said the company “supports the pragmatic approach being taken by the new Seattle City Council as they balance the needs of workers, customers, and businesses across the city and reform the current version of PayUp legislation.”

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“Uber supports the complete package, and believes it will go a long way to ease the operational burdens and costs experienced by customers throughout Seattle and reduce delivery times,” a spokesperson told BI.

But gig worker Taylor said he was dismayed that the delivery companies have had such a direct role in developing the bill that would replace PayUp.

“To me, it’s basically saying we’re allowing lobbyists to write our laws,” Taylor said.

Do you deliver food, groceries, or other items as a gig worker and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com



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Seattle, WA

Seattle Mariners’ Top International Prospect Struggles in Professional Debut on Monday

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Seattle Mariners’ Top International Prospect Struggles in Professional Debut on Monday


Seattle Mariners fans got their first looks at top international prospect Yorger Bautista on Monday, as he took the field with the Dominican Summer League Mariners in their season opener.

Bautista, who is the No. 13 prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline, went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. The M’s signed him this past winter out of Venezuela and he’s not projected to make his major league debut until 2030.

The following comes from a portion of his MLB.com prospect profile:

A left-handed hitter and thrower, Bautista utilizes an unusual swing and set up, resting his bat on his back shoulder until he strides forward. It’s worked for him so far, with elite bat speed and double-plus raw power that he’ll be able to continue to get to consistently as he gets more reps.

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Bautista’s arm strength matches his power as one of the strongest in the class. He has the chance to be a plus defender, and he should get the chance to play center field with his plus speed as he gets his pro career underway this summer.

As for the rest of the Mariners prospects in the system, most of them are off on Monday. The ACL Mariners are in action but the Single-A Modesto Nuts, High-A Everett AquaSox, Double-A Arkansas Travelers and Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers are all off.

The Mariners themselves are off as well and will resume play on Tuesday when they open up a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at T-Mobile Park.

First pitch is 6:40 p.m. PT. Seattle is 32-26 on the season.

NEW PODCAST IS OUT! Brady is back for another episode of “Refuse to Lose,” as he talks about the disappointing loss on Thursday against the Nationals and the bullpen decisions that took place in it. Furthermore, where has the offense from April gone? How concerned are we about George Kirby? And what are all the big roster decisions that this team has to make moving forward. CLICK HERE:

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HISTORIC DEBUT: Cole Young debuted on Saturday night, hitting a walk-off fielders choice for the M’s and making some special history. CLICK HERE:

NO QUESTION: According to ESPN researcher Paul Hembekides, there’s “no question,” that Cal Raleigh is the best catcher in the league. CLICK HERE:

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @RefuseToLosePod. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.



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Minnesota claims its first-ever win in Seattle with 3-2 victory over the Sounders

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Minnesota claims its first-ever win in Seattle with 3-2 victory over the Sounders


WCCO digital update: Afternoon of June 1, 2025

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WCCO digital update: Afternoon of June 1, 2025

01:16

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Tani Oluwaseyi scored two goals in the second half and Minnesota claimed its first-ever win in Seattle with a 3-2 victory over the Sounders on Sunday.

Minnesota (8-3-6) beat the Sounders (7-5-5) for just the second time in 16 meetings — and won in Seattle for the first time in nine tries. The Sounders also knocked out Minnesota in the 2020 Western Conference championship.

Seattle (7-5-5) dropped its first game at Lumen Field this season, moving to 5-1-2. FC Cincinnati is the only MLS team yet to lose at home.

Minnesota and Seattle combined for four goals in seven minutes, marking the ninth time in MLS history that two teams had four goals in eight-or-fewer minutes in a half.

Oluwaseyi opened the scoring in the 51st minute when he was left alone at the penalty spot for a redirection of Robin Lod’s back pass. Oluwaseyi scored again in the 58th on a rebound attempt for a 3-1 lead.

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Lod scored on a penalty kick in the 54th for a two-goal advantage.

Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and Nicolás Romero scored for Seattle.

The Seattle players wore T-shirts before a match that read “Club World Cup Ca$h Grab” to demand a share of the prize money for participating in the upcoming international tournament.

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Walkoff caps 'unreal' debut for Seattle Mariners' Cole Young

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Walkoff caps 'unreal' debut for Seattle Mariners' Cole Young


SEATTLE – On the eve of his major league debut, as he unsuccessfully tried to get some sleep, Cole Young’s mind raced through all the various scenarios he might find himself in the next day.

But there was one situation that never crossed his mind.

Perhaps because it would’ve seemed too good to be true.

Young delivered a walkoff in the 11th inning of his first big league game, chopping a grounder to first base that brought home Miles Mastrobuoni for the winning run in the Seattle Mariners’ 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday evening.

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“That was unreal,” Young said, still trying to grasp the dream-like whirlwind that had just ensued. “I can’t even describe it. The past 24 hours, it has been insane. I mean, I never thought I would be in that situation hit a walkoff in my debut. That was unreal.

“I didn’t sleep last night,” he added. “I was just thinking of every scenario that could happen, (but) a walkoff was not in my mind.”

Young also picked up his first career hit in the ninth inning. After falling behind 1-2 against Minnesota reliever Griffin Jax, Young dipped down and pulled a low-and-inside sweeper into right field for a single.

And in the 10th, Young helped turn an inning-ending double play that prevented a run from scoring.

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It was all part of a highly impressive debut for the 21-year-old second baseman, who was promoted earlier in the day after a scorching month in Triple-A Tacoma, where he hit an astounding five home runs, three triples and 10 doubles over his final 24 games.

“He’s a big league player,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “That’s why he’s here, and he made the plays. He did an outstanding job. And that’s not easy to do when it’s your first big league game.

“He was able to go out there and just be Cole Young. It’s just an outstanding ballgame for him and it led to a big win for us.”

Young, ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 43 overall prospect, was drafted by the Mariners as a first-round pick out of high school in 2022. He was highly productive at every level of the minors, all while being one of the youngest players at every stop.

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Young was widely expected to reach the majors at some point this season. And after his recent tear in Tacoma, his promotion began to feel inevitable.

But still, Young was caught off-guard when he was pulled in the middle of Tacoma’s game on Friday night.

“Our manager came up to me after the third inning and he was like, you’re going to Seattle tomorrow,” Young said. “And I had him repeat it. I’m like, what? Because I couldn’t believe it. And then he told me (again).

“And so last night I didn’t sleep at all. I was just thinking about what would happen today.”

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When Young came to the plate in the 11th inning, the winning run was on third with one out. He fell into an early hole, fouling off three of the first four pitches from Minnesota reliever Cole Sands.

Young then got his bat on a 1-2 splitter and sent a one-out chopper to former Mariners first baseman Ty France. France barehanded the ball and threw home, but Mastrobuoni slid in safely.

It was actually stunningly identical to Young’s walkoff on Thursday night in Tacoma, when he hit a high chopper to first that plated the winning run for the Rainiers.

“It was like the same exact hit, which is crazy,” Young said. “I’m just glad I put the ball in play and good things happen.”

After his walkoff on Saturday, Young was mobbed by his new teammates in shallow left field. Meanwhile, his family and friends celebrated from the T-Mobile Park stands, along with some 37,000 other ecstatic Mariners fans.

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“I still haven’t wrapped my head around the game,” Young said, “but it’s been an unreal 24 hours.”

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Cal Raleigh moves into tie for MLB HR lead, then fire alarm goes off
• Cole Young to make MLB debut, start at 2B for Seattle Mariners
• Three reasons behind the Seattle Mariners’ May swoon
• Seattle Mariners prospect Harry Ford continues tear with massive HR
• Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh details his key improvement at the plate





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