Group: 3rd Uber driver deemed employee, not contractor

  

A New York City advocacy group says a third former Uber driver has been deemed to have been an employee of the company, not a contractor.


The New York Taxi Workers Alliance said Thursday that the determination by the state labor department makes Jeffrey Shepherd eligible for unemployment benefits.

It says Shepherd was forced to quit working for Uber because he often earned below minimum wage after car leasing and other payments were deducted from his paycheck.

In October, two other Uber workers were declared employees after the alliance sued the agency for not reviewing their unemployment claims. The agency says confidentiality regulations prohibit it from commenting.

Uber has said it's appealing the determination. It has argued with authorities around the world about whether drivers should be treated as contractors or benefits-eligible employees.

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