The Sunday Observer: Gig-economy giants prep for potential ballot fight

Lyft, Uber, Doordash, and Instacart form committee, pay interesting consultants

The giants of the gig economy are prepping for a potential ballot measure campaign in Washington next year, paying an interesting slate of top-shelf lobbyists and other consultants as they look to ward off aggressive regulation of their businesses.

The Observer is told the impetus of this activity is the looming specter of the #PayUp movement aimed at app-based delivery services that bring restaurant food, groceries and other goods directly to customers. The gist of that campaign: $15/hour plus expenses for all time worked, tips go entirely to drivers, and companies must provide a detailed breakdown of what drivers are being paid for.

That idea, which is being aggressively pushed in Washington by unions and related advocacy groups, was floated at the Seattle City Council earlier this year. Labor advocates and gig-economy players are currently trying to work out some kind of compromise to be brought before the council this winter.

The campaign that has the gig economy’s attention.