Uber drivers in New York City have reportedly sued the company for allegedly failing to repay taxes it deducted from their earnings. The suit was filed by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which is a vocal critic of Uber and the ride-hail industry.
The plaintiffs seek to represent a class of 96,000-plus Uber drivers in New York City who worked for the company from 2013-2017 and who did not opt out of arbitration. The lawsuit claims Uber deducted sales tax and the Black Car Fund surcharge from drivers during that time. The lawsuit is asking for all of that money back.
The executive director of the Taxi Workers Alliance Bhairavi Desai said in a statement: “Uber bosses are raking in millions while drivers struggle to feed their families. Uber’s business model depends on exploiting vulnerable low-wage workers — including by stealing from driver pay. But time and time again, when workers fight back, we beat Uber even with all their billions.”
The plaintiffs are also challenging the company’s upfront pricing system, arguing it allows the company to charge customers higher fares than are reported to drivers.
The Taxi Workers Alliance says Uber wrongly shifted the cost of those taxes and surcharges to drivers, in addition to charging the service fee.
The suit was filed in federal court in Manhattan on November 6th.
