Drivers for Uber Technologies Inc. will get their day in court.
A California federal judge has set a trial date of June 20, 2016 for a class-action lawsuit that could help decide the employment status of Uber drivers, according to the lawyer representing the plaintiffs.
The case, O’Connor v. Uber, concerns the ride service’s classification of drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.
RELATED COVERAGE BY WALL STREET JOURNAL
- Two Drivers Seek Repeal of Uber Arbitration Policy (Sept. 24)
- Uber’s Rise Presses Taxi Lenders (Oct. 21)
- Uber Appeals Class-Action Ruling for Lawsuit (Sept. 15)
- Uber Drivers Suit Granted Class-Action Status (Sept. 1)
- Uber, Lyft Cases Focus on Drivers’ Legal Status (March 15)
The plaintiffs say that, because Uber controls things like ride prices and performance standards, they should be considered employees and eligible for reimbursement of expenses such as gas and vehicle maintenance.
Judge Edward Chen already certified the case as a class action, rejecting Uber’s argument that drivers should take their claims to individual arbitration proceedings. Uber has appealed the class certification to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
