Impact on sharing economy as Uber and Lyft drivers union bill is passed
Yesterday we reported that Seattle City Council were voting on a bill that would allow drivers for ride-sharing firms such as Uber and Lyft to form unions. Today we can report that the bill was unanimously passed, making Seattle the first city in the US to allow drivers to collectively bargain. This could have wide ranging implications for sharing economy businesses, as the drivers will now be able to negotiate their salaries and working conditions as a unit, however, and this is important, it does not mean that they’ll be considered employees, the bill refers to the workers as independent contractors. While the bill is being seen as a test case for the rest of America, the story is not over yet. Charlotte Garden, an assistant law professor at Seattle University, said it's a "virtual certainty" that the ordinance will be challenged in court if it's enacted. "I anticipate that other cities will consider similar measures, but they may wait to see whether the ordinance survives review by a federal court," she said. 
Lyft was the first to speak out against the new bill, stating: “…Unfortunately, the ordinance passed today threatens the privacy of drivers, imposes substantial costs on passengers and the City, and conflicts with longstanding federal law. We urge the Mayor and full Council to reconsider this legislation and listen to the voices of their constituents who choose to drive with Lyft because of the flexible economic opportunity it offers.” 
Whilst Uber is yet to comment, there is no doubt this is another piece of bad news for the ridehailing giant, which is currently facing a class-action lawsuit in California on behalf of some drivers who wish to be considered full-time employees, not contractors. Uber has consistently resisted that effort, underscoring the flexibility its service affords those who drive for the company.

SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council voted unanimously to approve a bill allowing drivers for Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing apps to form unions.

Council members voted 9-0 in favor of the ordinance, the first legislation of its kind in the country. The decision was greeted with cheers in a City Council chamber packed with supporters holding placards that read “Driver Unity.” The measure is likely to be challenged in court.

The vote is a victory for the App-Based Drivers Association, or ABDA, of Seattle, an organization of on-demand contract workers that lobbied with the local Teamsters union for the legislation. It is a fight that other drivers around the country have watched closely; union organizers in California have said that the outcome of the Seattle vote could influence actions taken in their own cities.

One member of the City Council, Nick Licata, called the vote “history-setting in what we’re attempting to do here in terms of advancing the rights of drivers.”