Seattle's Rideshare Unionization Law Put On Hold By Federal Judge

SEATTLE, WA - A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily halted Seattle's rideshare unionization law, which is the first local law in the U.S. that allows drivers for services like Lyft and Uber to form a union.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in March 2016 to block Seattle's law. U.S. District Court Judge Robert S. Lasnik on Tuesday ruled in favor of the Chamber's request to halt the law until the case is settled in court.

"The court emphasizes that this order shall not be read as a harbinger of what the ultimate decision in this case will be," Lasnik wrote in his ruling.

The Seattle City Council enacted the rideshare unionization law in late 2015. The law covers taxi drivers and rideshare drivers, which the city calls "Transportation Network Companies." Uber and Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors.

The Chamber contends that federal law on collective bargaining overrules the city's ordinance, and thus the law should be invalidated.

Seattle Councilmember Mike O'Brien introduced the legislation on Sept. 8, 2015. The law followed a successful bid in 2014 to increase Seattle's minimum wage to $15 per hour. Rideshare companies are staunchly against the law. And on Monday night, a cadre of rideshare drivers protested outside O'Brien's house against the law.

Adrian Durib, a Lyft spokesperson, said Tuesday that Seattle's law "could undermine the flexibility of drivers to choose when, where and for how long they drive - the very things that make Lyft so attractive to drivers and useful for passengers."

Image via Richard Vogel/Associated Press