Chair Jama, Vice-Chair Bonham, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Kathy Lara, Policy Analyst for the Oregon Center for Public Policy, and I respectfully submit this testimony in support of SB 1166 on behalf of the Center. The Oregon Center for Public Policy is a nonpartisan think tank that uses research and analysis to improve the economic outcomes for all Oregonians, especially for those struggling to make ends meet.
On behalf of the Center, I encourage you to support SB 1166. The bill would create a new baseline of fairness for rideshare drivers, guaranteeing minimum protections, minimum pay, and transparency.
SB 1166 corrects the injustice of excluding gig workers from minimum standards. Rideshare drivers are currently excluded from minimum standards. Because Lyft and Uber drivers are currently considered independent contractors, they are not subject to minimum workplace standards compared to other workers. This means that transportation network companies are not obligated to provide a minimum wage, sick leave, and other basic job protections. SB 1166 would fix this limitation. SB 1166 ensures that drivers — regardless of classification — receive minimum compensation, have sick leave, and can enforce their rights through the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
SB 1166 provides rideshare driver’s a minimum wage. Currently rideshare drivers are not subject to minimum wage laws. They only get paid during rides, and not while waiting on passengers. When considering the costs of maintenance, many drivers are not making the employee-equivalent minimum wage when driving for transportation network companies SB 1166 would mandate that drivers are compensated for their time and mileage, helping to secure a reliable wage that reflects the real costs of being a rideshare driver.
SB 1166 adds transparency to the ride-share industry. Drivers lack information on their passenger trips, which leave them in the dark about trip details. As a consequence drivers may not know how long they drove or how much passengers paid. SB 1166 would mandate that rideshare companies provide comprehensive receipts to drivers, providing transparency when it comes to drive time, miles driven, fares, tips, and other important information. Additionally, companies would have to provide written notices to drivers about their benefits in the top five most common language spoken throughout the state, making sure that drivers from different backgrounds have knowledge of their rights and benefits.
Rideshare drivers work hard to provide for themselves and their families, while providing a valuable service to our community – getting people to work, school, medical appointments, and back home safely. They should have access to basic minimum workplace protections that many other working people already have access to. SB 1166 is a step toward ensuring drivers are treated with the dignity and respect that all working people deserve.
We urge your support SB 1166.
