Jobs With Justice and The National Limousine Association’s Ride Responsibly™ have joined forces in the fight for workers’ rights, specifically focusing on the lapses in legal protections that have proliferated as the nation’s ground transportation industry evolves.
Both organizations share the belief that men and women are entitled to a voice in their workplaces and the economy and their wellbeing is intrinsically connected to the country’s economic wellbeing. However, within today’s ground transportation industry, as the profit model has changed and new technology has come into play, working people have become an ancillary concern.
“In a society that increasingly values convenience over safety and responsibility, it is the obligation of the NLA to raise awareness about how ride-hailing services, for financial gain, are circumventing fair labor laws and are not adhering to the same safety standards and regulations that are often applicable to taxis and limousines,” said Gary Buffo, President of the NLA. “Our partnership with Jobs With Justice is a vital step towards bringing these urgent matters to the forefront of conversation here in the United States. Ride-hailing services are misleading passengers, exploiting drivers and putting our economy at risk.”
“Americans are united in the desire to work hard for our families and our futures,” said Jobs With Justice Executive Director Sarita Gupta. “Unfortunately many ride-hailing services rig the rules to prevent working people from leading a good life. When ride-hailing firms misclassify employees as independent contractors they avoid taking responsibility for the safety and security of the people who make their businesses run. Our partnership with the National Limousine Association’s Ride Responsibly™ initiative will help shed light on how transportation networking companies undermine drivers, consumers, and our communities.”
The National Limousine Association is a non-profit organization responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of the private driver transportation industry at the global, national, state, and local level. Linking transportation industry professionals from owners and operators to suppliers, manufacturers, regional and state limousine associations.
The Ride Responsibly campaign is an effort to bridge an industry-wide gap between the rights of passengers and the responsibilities of service providers. The campaign establishes best safety practices for prearranged car services and transportation network companies (TNCs), which include ride-hailing app car services, such as Lyft, Sidecar, Uber and Whisk.
This initiative by the National Limousine Association is designed to help address growing public concern and provide a forum for all to voice their views on the ground transportation industry. The program focuses on educating both service providers and the public about regulations, legislation and best practices within the industry. The goal is to empower and inform the public at large, and drivers and operators alike with the necessary tools to Ride Responsibly.
With a network of 39 local coalitions across the U.S., Jobs With Justice, is renowned for leading the fight for workers’ rights and an economy that benefits everyone, believes that all men and women should have a voice, employment security and a decent standard of living.
Source: National Limousine Association
Edited by: G. Davila