Hundreds of Uber, Lyft drivers rally for statewide rideshare-driver minimum wage

More than 700 Uber and Lyft drivers delivered a petition Tuesday to state lawmakers, calling on the Senate to vote on a bill that would create a statewide minimum wage for transportation network company (TNC) drivers.

Those drivers are defined as employees of companies that use software to connect passengers and drivers for transportation purposes.

House Bill 2076 establishes minimum compensation standards, and provides paid sick leave, paid family medical leave, and insurance benefits. It also creates a driver resource hub to help drivers with disputes and provide deactivation protection.

The minimum wage bill cleared the House last week but still requires a Senate vote and the governor’s signature before potentially being signed into law. The legislation was modeled after a similar policy passed by Seattle City Council in 2020.

Seattle council approves measure giving minimum wage to Lyft, Uber drivers

The legislation would be the first of its kind to establish minimum labor protections for TNC drivers.

“I’m proud to have introduced and passed through the State House first-in-the-nation legislation advancing the rights of Uber and Lyft drivers in Washington,” wrote State Representative Liz Berry in a news release. “The drivers have been my North Star throughout this process. They have been asking for statewide pay raises, deactivation protections, and benefits – a better quality of life and future. I will continue to listen all the way to the finish line.”

KIRO Newsradio’s Hanna Scott contributed to this report. 

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