Seattle loss may have union lessons for Uber, Lyft drivers

A court ruling that hobbled Seattle’s trail-blazing effort to help Uber and Lyft drivers organise unions may still offer a bright spot for labor advocates.

Legal experts say Friday’s ruling by a federal appeals court opens the door for lawmakers elsewhere to draft proposals allowing collective bargaining for drivers. The court concluded that Washington state didn’t authorise the Seattle measure specifically enough.

“This opinion, in rejecting regulation in Seattle, has made it clear to states like California and New York that they can pass a statute tomorrow to regulate the relationship between Uber and Lyft and their drivers,” said William Gould, a