Amazon, Uber and Instacart sue to block NYC law on delivery worker deactivation
AMZN•Amazon, Uber and Instacart sued New York City to block a law requiring advance notice and just cause before delivery workers can be deactivated. The law is slated to take effect in January.
1. Companies challenge the law
Amazon.com, Uber and Instacart filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court claiming the delivery worker deactivation law violates their constitutional rights to free speech and due process. The companies say the law also improperly compels speech and applies retroactively to 2021; they will seek a preliminary ruling blocking it while the case proceeds.
2. Rules and prior case
The law requires "just cause," such as misconduct or failure to perform jobs, and notice before drivers can be deactivated. Uber and Lyft earlier this year won a court block on a nearly identical law covering ride-hailing services. Supporters of the laws say firings can be arbitrary and worker safety is compromised when workers face pressure to complete more orders.
