Another Uber Driver Awarded Unemployment Benefits
http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2016/03/04/uber-driver-awarded-unemployment-benefits-first-known-case-in-state
A former Uber driver from the San Diego area has successfully applied for unemployment benefits with the state of California, SF Weekly has learned.
The case of driver Patrick Ely appears to be the first known instance in which the is one of a few known examples in which the Employment Development Department recognized an Uber driver as an employee (independent contractors do not receive unemployment benefits), and has potential ramifications for an upcoming trial over whether the $65 billion company's driver "partners" are employees or independent contractors.
And ahead of the landmark trial, scheduled to start in June, the state appears prepared to classify more Uber drivers as employees. When Ely filed for unemployment, the EDD gave him a questionnaire tailored specifically to Uber drivers, a copy of which was provided to SF Weekly....
When he complained to the company, Uber representatives told him they could do nothing, Ely said. When he and 30 other drivers filed suit against the company on Feb. 3, alleging violations of the California Labor Act, Ely found his access to the Uber app deactivated. Uber claimed it was because of a moving violation, but that moving violation was on his record before he started driving for the company, Ely said.
