Rideshare Drivers in the South Strike for Fair Pay

The Tennessee Drivers Union made waves this Labor Day weekend by organizing a significant strike at Nashville International Airport. Around 100 Uber and Lyft drivers, representing a coalition of rideshare workers from over 14 countries, took a stand by refusing to accept rides. Their goal was to impact Nashville’s $30 billion tourism industry during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. This strike, which followed a vote to unionize in late August, is one of the largest of its kind in the Deep South. The union has vowed to continue these efforts until their demands are met.

Rideshare drivers across the country have been struggling with unfair pay and challenging working conditions for years. In Tennessee, drivers report that companies like Uber and Lyft take between 60% and 80% of their earnings, forcing many to work 12-hour days to make ends meet. This mirrors a broader trend, confirmed by a 2023 UCLA Labor Center report, which found that while passenger costs have been rising, companies are taking a larger share of driver earnings.

The Tennessee strike echoes nationwide actions from earlier this year, where rideshare and delivery drivers organized protests across 44 cities. These coordinated efforts are part of a larger movement among gig workers to secure higher wages and better protections, despite significant corporate resistance.

At the federal level, the Biden administration introduced a new rule in January 2024 aimed at strengthening legal protections for independent contractors. This rule, which reversed a previous policy, was intended to make it more difficult for companies to classify workers as independent contractors, thereby denying them benefits such as minimum wage, health coverage, and paid sick leave. However, despite this rule, companies like Uber and Lyft have continued to resist reclassifying their drivers as employees. Ongoing legal challenges have raised questions about the rule’s effectiveness, particularly as the Biden administration has argued in court that the rule may not lead to widespread reclassification of gig workers.

State legislation on gig workers remains inconsistent. While some states have introduced programs to provide benefits, others have seen intense lobbying efforts aimed at maintaining the status quo. For example, after California passed a law in 2019 that would have extended employee benefits to gig workers, companies like Uber and Lyft spent over $200 million to pass Proposition 22, which allowed them to continue classifying their drivers as independent contractors. This measure was upheld by the California Supreme Court in July 2024.

The Tennessee Drivers Union’s efforts are particularly significant given the challenging environment for labor organizing in the South. Tennessee is one of 28 right-to-work states, which generally make it more difficult for workers to unionize. Despite these challenges, Tennessee is the fastest-growing state for labor unions, even though union membership remains about 30% lower than the national average.

As the Biden-Harris administration continues to navigate the complexities of gig worker protections, the future of rideshare labor rights remains uncertain. The Tennessee Drivers Union’s strike is a powerful reminder that the fight for fair pay and better working conditions is far from over. As more gig workers unionize and organize, their collective voice will continue to shape the future of the gig economy.