New York City Council Passes Landmark Bill to Curb Unfair Uber–Lyft Driver Deactivations
Progga News Desk:
Ride-hailing drivers in New York City are celebrating a major victory as the City Council has passed a landmark bill aimed at protecting drivers from unjust account deactivations by companies such as Uber and Lyft. The legislation, known as Intro 276, was approved on Thursday after council members overrode a last-minute veto by former Mayor Eric Adams.
The bill seeks to prevent ride-share companies from deactivating drivers’ accounts without just cause or proper notice, a practice that has left thousands of drivers suddenly without income.
Among those welcoming the decision is Md. Azizul Haque, one of many drivers who say they were unfairly removed from the platform. Haque said Uber permanently deactivated his account without providing any clear explanation. When he visited the company’s office in Long Island City to seek answers, officials were unable to identify a specific reason for the decision.
With no option to appeal or regain his job, Haque said he quickly fell into severe financial hardship.
“For six months, I couldn’t pay my rent,” he said. “This income supported my entire family. I had car payments on a brand-new vehicle. I was forced to borrow money from friends.” He hopes the new law will prevent other drivers from experiencing similar hardship.
Council Member Shekar Krishnan, the bill’s lead sponsor, said the legislation sends a clear message to corporate giants. “We are standing up to corporate greed and protecting workers,” Krishnan said. “This bill tells Uber and Lyft—and companies across the country—that workers’ rights matter.”
Under the new law, Uber and Lyft must provide drivers with at least 14 days’ notice before deactivating their accounts, except in cases involving serious misconduct. The burden of proof now lies with the companies to justify any deactivation. The bill also allows drivers to recover lost wages if they are wrongfully deactivated and, in certain cases, provides access to free legal representation arranged by the city.
Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, praised the measure, saying it offers drivers an independent appeals process outside company control.
“Drivers can file complaints with a city agency that will investigate unfair terminations,” Desai said. “This is a comprehensive set of rights for drivers.”
However, the bill has not received unanimous support. The Independent Drivers Guild (IDG), which represents more than 80,000 ride-share drivers, withdrew its backing after key provisions were changed. IDG President Brendan Sexton argued that complaints may only be pursued if the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has sufficient resources.
“On one hand, the city is granting drivers a right,” Sexton said, “and on the other hand, it is taking that right away.”
IDG also warned that the legislation could eliminate the use of neutral arbitrators and significantly lengthen the dispute process. The group further claims that ride-share companies may attempt to bypass the law by seeking license revocations through the Taxi and Limousine Commission.
In a statement, Lyft said the new policy could negatively impact riders and noted that the company has already taken steps to improve its deactivation process.
“Rather than forcing through a flawed version, we should work together on a balanced solution,” the company said.
Uber declined to comment.
City officials said the new law will take effect within 180 days.
Source: Nandan TV
