Last week, Justice for App Workers members testified at the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission public meeting on for-hire vehicle driver pay and industry economics. In our testimonies, we held the NYC TLC accountable for ensuring rideshare drivers are getting fair pay for our work.
We emphasized the burden of rising expenses and the need for a 10% cap on app company commissions. Not only would this allow drivers to keep more of our hard-earned money and actually make a fair wage, but the TLC’s own commissioned research found that app companies can still operate profitably at 7% commission.
Ivan Ventura, Black Car Mafia leader and JFAW member, asked the TLC leaders to put themselves in the drivers’ shoes to see that the current pay rates are not a living wage: “Try to get behind the wheel. Sign up. Get a TLC license, go out there, work an eight hour shift. When you make $250-$300 and you spend $180 on gas, you’re going to see that this doesn’t make any sense.”
App workers deserve a living wage and it’s time to make meaningful reforms to an under-regulated industry. App companies have been allowed to take advantage of us for far too long. We deserve fair pay, and together we can improve this industry for all app workers!