Uber is now suggesting that drivers listen to anti-union podcasts before driving
It seems like Uber can't stray away from the nightmarish PR circus that its found itself tangled in over the past few months.
So it really should come as no surprise that we have yet another bizarre and forehead-slap-inducing Uber update to report on.
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Uber Seattle is now periodically delivering an anti-union podcast to drivers that they can choose to listen to via the app they use to accept rides, in hopes of, presumably, minimizing drivers' desires or efforts to unionize against the company.
The podcast, which is hosted by Brooke Steger, Uber General Manager, touch on a wide range of subjects pertaining to unionization, reports Quartz:
"During Steger's two-and-a-half hours of podcasts, she argues that unionizing would take away drivers' right to represent themselves to Uber, that the union will collect dues from drivers regardless of whether they support union, and that the union just wants drivers' money. It warns drivers that union officials may stalk them or deceive them into giving their signatures in support of the organization effort."
Uber drivers are treated as independent contractors, meaning that they're not protected by most labor laws -- Something that has been a source of contention amongst drivers in the past.
This isn't the first time Uber's attempted to disband the union before it's even begun – Uber has been known to run television advertisements (one during the NFL playoffs, in fact) as well as various emails and phone calls to drivers warning them about the 'dangers' of unionization.
FastCompany also reports:
"Seattle-area drivers are also receiving text messages, phone surveys, and meeting invites from the company in hopes of convincing them not to unionize."
Here's to hoping all of the money, time and effort isn't wasted on a nonexistent issue – It sure seems like the fear may be bigger than the truth here.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to clarify that, according to an Uber spokesperson, drivers are not required to listen to the podcasts but are simply notified in the app when one is available to listen to, should they choose to do so.
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