Intro 276 to solve crisis of unjust firings for app-based drivers

The New York City Council has passed the deactivation protection bill called ‘Intro 276’, ending the threat of unfair “deactivations” or firings for almost 100,000 app-based drivers in NYC, according to a news release by New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA).

The NYTWA pushed the bill (Passed on Thursday, December 18) through the City Council while Mayor-elect Mamdani backed the move.

Intro 276is the largest and most comprehensive reform of unfair firings for app-based drivers in the country, setting a nationwide precedent for driver protections. The passage comes after months of aggressive misinformation campaigns sponsored by Uber and Lyft, in their costly attempt to stall the bill and prevent workers from gaining power.

In a social media post, Mayor-Elect Zohran Kwame Mamdani said, “Spent Tuesday night with NYTWA drivers who are organizing to pass Intro 276- a bill that would end arbitrary.
Deactivations. Right now, Uber and Lyft can’t cut off a driver’s income for any reason at all, with no warning and no recourse. They are demanding an end to this. And I’m proud to stand with them.”

“Thank you, Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani! I am proud to have fought with you, alongside
NYTWA during the medallion crisis,” said Shekar Krisnan, the Council Member for District 25.

Uber and Lyft drivers can be deactivated for any reason or no reason at all, with no warning and no recourse. Unlike most workers, Uber and Lyft drivers pay to work, often going into debt to purchase their own vehicles, and paying out-of-pocket for gas, insurance, and vehicle maintenance. Yet they labor with no job security and are left with debt after being fired from the apps. 90% remain deactivated.

Before the bill passed 40 in the affirmative, 7 in the negative, and 1 abstention, Council Member Krishnan, joined by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Korean American Family Service Center, and Council Members Hanif, Marte, and Epstein, and hundreds of Uber, Lyft, and Yellow Cab drivers. Cabs driving down Broadway honked in solidarity. The rally spotlighted drivers who have been deactivated, and the devastating impacts deactivation has had on their finances and families.

After the rally, the group joined the Street Vendor Project and Los Deliveristas Unidos/Workers Justice Project for a march along Broadway, highlighting the solidarity amongst gig workers and the historic passage of a slate of worker protection bills.”

“Gone is the era where 4.8-star drivers open the Uber app to a dark screen and get no answers as to why. My bill gives drivers rights– just cause, notice, and the means to appeal an unfair firing. Our New York City Council has taken on Uber and Lyft’s billion-dollar war chest that has fueled their lies, fearmongering, and misinformation. Together, we are standing united with workers and passing my legislation that will start a nationwide movement to give app-based drivers the power they deserve,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan, prime sponsor of Intro 276.

“Intro 276 sets the strongest standard for just cause protections for Uber and Lyft drivers in the country,” said Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. “The passage of this historic bill means that drivers, who go into debt just to work, will no longer have to worry about going to sleep after a grueling day on the road only to wake and find they have been unfairly deactivated, left with no income overnight at the click of a button. This bill is about due process, but fundamentally it is also about the basic dignity every worker deserves.

NYTWA member and Uber and Lyft driver Carmen Cruz said, “We are so proud of our victory. Drivers have been in the streets fighting for our rights in the cold and in the heat. We fight for our rights because even though we give these giant corporations so much, they don’t care about us. And we are sick and tired of being treated unfairly. Drivers have to provide for our families, take our children to school every day, and put food on the table. Our victory shows the power of our union, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, and the power of worker solidarity.”

“Uber and Lyft workers completely depend on app-based gig work for their livelihood, yet these companies evade labor laws by classifying full-time drivers as ‘gig’ workers,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “No one should live in fear of being deactivated by a faceless algorithm. I’m proud to co-sponsor Intro 276 to protect workers from wrongful deactivation and give them the right to challenge unfair treatment.”

“Hardworking ride-share drivers are at the mercy of billionaire tech companies, who can
Deactivate their accounts on a whim. With Intro 276, we’re strengthening worker protection for drivers while balancing passenger safety on these platforms. Workers deserve due process,” said Council Member Harvey Epstein.

“For too long, app-based drivers have been one click away from losing their livelihood, with no explanation, no due process, and no way to fight back. This legislation makes that clear.

Deactivation is not just a technical decision; it’s a termination, and workers deserve basic rights.
Fairness and transparency. By establishing just-cause protections, clear notice requirements, and real remedies, we’re putting guardrails around an industry that has operated in the shadows for far too long and affirming that working New Yorkers deserve dignity and job security, no matter the platform,” said Council Member Christopher Marte.

Founded in 1998, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) is the over 28,000-member Strong union of NYC taxicab drivers, representing yellow cab drivers, green car drivers, and black car drivers, including drivers for Uber and Lyft. We fight for justice, rights, respect, and dignity for the over 150,000 licensed men and women who often labor 12-hour shifts with little pay and few protections in the city’s mobile sweatshop. Our members come from every community, garage, and neighborhood.