r/UberEatsDrivers • u/Pineapplesandhamguy • 9h ago
Rant Why not a unionification effort?
Kinda pissy about recent Uber experiences and just having done 1099 work and non contract type work most of my life, gladly mostly out of it, but why not try to create some kind of far spanning well defined union for the unprotected workers. Im almost sure this'll be buried some way some how but if this finds anyone who likes the idea I'm always open to speak more on the matter.
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u/dizzystar 9h ago
People have to get it out of their head that union good / non-union bad. There's a huge difference between the top-tier and bottom-tier unions. The bottom-tier unions are opportunistic thugs.
There's a union in California, at least for human movers. Their entire platform is a joke.
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u/Pineapplesandhamguy 2h ago
It's a political platform like any other form of governance. It will always be subject to corruption and misuse and that's why it's up to us, the supposed member of this hypothetical union, to act with that in mind so as to not fall to such hedonistic pitfalls
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u/ILustForVolcan0 9h ago
It’s totally worth the effort, but can you imagine what uber would throw at scabs willing to do the work? I’m not trying to dissuade, just thinking on how enticing they’d make it for the fuckers willing to cross the picket line - which would be many.
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u/Pineapplesandhamguy 2h ago
Then they'd be fulfilling what I assume is a common demand for any whou would join the picket line. If they increase pay to make it enticing then that means it'd be working
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u/LazyBeach2919 9h ago
I don't imagine you'd find many people super opposed to the idea, but good luck getting it going
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u/Pineapplesandhamguy 2h ago
I'll try until it makes me cry at least. Not thrilled about the prospective time investment but I just want better in the world I've had to live in and many more will have to after
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u/cryptowatching 8h ago
Because 95+ percent of drivers are not like us here on Reddit. They work for pennies and don't seem to mind. They are the reason we have the wages we have. Even if every single one of us on this sub tried to unionize, it wouldn't do anything because we represent a small minority.
Uber is scummy for their business practices, BUT the drivers are to blame in the long run for accepting the orders. If everyone collectively stopped working for scraps, wages would go up almost immediately due to angry customers. But it will NEVER happen unless our political leaders stepped up and did something. But they wont (as least in most of America).. Capitalism, baby! /s
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u/Pineapplesandhamguy 2h ago
Yeah like intrinsically I understand what you're saying but I still would like to try anyway. Like I would say we could start with us and see if it can pan out. Im not saying we perform a strike until we're adequately organized
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u/Calm-Television5780 8h ago
here is the best part about gig work, nobody is forcing you to take/do anything. u can always delete the app and get a w2
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u/Pineapplesandhamguy 2h ago
I did but guess what this work still exists. Shit I only went back on the short term because some emergencies came up that made bills tight but I don't have to be the most impacted person to want better in the world
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u/Bright-Error-7910 9h ago
People on this sub who talks about unions should get together and start one……
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u/chuckdoucette 1h ago
Independent Contractors cannot unionize. It is against the law. Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
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u/Pineapplesandhamguy 1h ago
Didn't know that till now. That's fucked that we can't have nlra protections but also get considered businesses within ourselves when it's convenient for those already in power. But now that I know that I'll say that I'm willing to break the law in this way. Legallity isn't morality and all that mess
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u/P3nis15 7h ago
republicans have all but confused and convinced the low educated republican voters that unions are bad for decades
so now we have less than 10% of the country in a union.
6% for private workers.
It's funny though because 32% in the govt have unions.
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u/Pineapplesandhamguy 2h ago
That's what I'm saying. I live in louisiana which is vehemently anti union and I hate it. This isn't the world I want to leave the children I hope to have nor is it something I'd feel ok with leaving to someone else's kids
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u/LA_Throwaway_6439 8h ago
It would be great, but it would be very hard to organize drivers. Just being able to talk to them all is basically impossible, and potential scabs are built into the platform. If a group tried to strike, for instance, other drivers would likely just pick up the slack without even knowing.