National Labor Relations Board rules that Uber drivers are independent contractors in the US
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a federal independent agency with responsibilities for enforcing US labor law, concluded that Uber drivers are independent contractors and not employees. The classification as independent contractors means that drivers have no right to form a union, bargain collectively, minimum wage, overtime pay among other traditional rights related to employment status. The NLRB’s decision serves as a recommendation for ruling in future cases in the US. The NLRB’s general counsel’s office based its decision on the fact that drivers are not subordinate to the ride-hailing platform and have “control of their cars, work schedules, and log-in locations, together with their freedom to work for competitors of Uber”. The NLRB released the advisory document on 21 May, a month after it was originally issued.
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