Can Independent Contractors Go on Strike?

A couple weeks ago, Uber drivers in the United Kingdom went on strike, seeking an increase in fares, a reduction of commissions owed to the ridesharing platform, and "employment conditions that respect worker rights for drivers, including the payment of at least the minimum wage and paid holidays." It's hard to imagine their American counterparts doing the same thing, mostly because recent court decisions in the U.K. have deemed drivers employees, rather than independent contractors, as they have been legally considered in the U.S.

As it turns out, this distinction matters when it comes to workers' rights to collective action against employees.

Balancing the Scales

It's all too common for workers and management to disagree about basic employment terms and conditions. And much of American labor law has been trying to balance the rights of employees and the responsibilities of employers. For instance:

• The National Labor Relations Act protects employees and union members from unfair bargaining practices;
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, and national origin;
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects employees from age discrimination;
• The Fair Labor Standards Act establishes minimum wage and overtime standards;
• The Employee Retirement Income Security Act ensures the security of employee retirement funds;
• The Occupational Safety and Health Act protects employees from environmental work hazards; and
• Myriad state unemployment and workers' compensation laws, require employers to compensate employees (normally though insurance) for medical treatment or lost wages if employees are injured while at work or lose their job.

None of these fine statutes, however, protect independent contractors. Which is why so many employers, including Uber, seek to reduce legal liabilities and increase profits by classifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees.

Tipped in Management's Favor

That's not to say that independent contractors can't organize. In fact, Seattle's city council recently voted to allow for-hire drivers -- from cabbies to Uber and Lyft drivers -- to unionize. The problem is that many of the legal protections afforded to unions and organized labor movements comes from federal law, and, again, only applies to employees, not independent contractors.

So, while independent contractors can conceivably strike, without the protections of federal labor law those workers lose the leverage of withholding labor from employers and would likely be fired, replaced, and left with no legal recourse.

So before you take to the picket line, talk to an experienced labor law attorney in your area about your legal rights and responsibilities.

Related Resources:

• Browse Labor Lawyers Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• Labor Strike FAQs (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
• A Labor Law Primer for Employees (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
• 7 Employment Laws Every Worker Should Know (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)