App workers in New York City are celebrating a victory for our industry. On February 11, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced that they will raise minimum pay rates of for-hire vehicle drivers by 5.3 percent. This raise will help improve the lives of thousands of app drivers and their families, who have risked so much to serve New York’s communities during the pandemic.

“Drivers have served on the frontlines and have been there for their neighbors — driving them around the city and delivering food to those in need,” Mayor Eric Adams said in his announcement address. “This is about respect and paying each one of these individuals a fair and decent wage.”

The JFAW coalition is glad that the TLC Is taking action through this increase. However, we still have a long way to go together as a city, state, and nation to ensure justice for ALL app workers – including delivery workers and those driving outside of the five boroughs of NYC. Our costs continue to go up, and we need our paycheck to reflect these rising costs. In addition to more improvement on livable wages, we also need immediate action to secure safety on the job, a fair account deactivation system, quality healthcare benefits, access to bathrooms, and the right to form a union.

This is just the beginning.