Judge puts temporary block on Seattle Uber union ordinance

U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik has issued a temporary restraining order blocking Seattle’s first-in-the-nation ordinance allowing rideshare drivers to unionize.

At the Sea-Tac airport waiting lot, many drivers want to join a union. Shamarke Goodir says he made less than $2 on a trip between Downtown Seattle and the Central District.

“We need to raise money because Seattle is too expensive. The rent is too expensive I pay $1,400, plus the insurance, plus my car payment so if I work 1(for) $1.60, it's not worth it,” Goodir said.

“If you have any concern, they say, 'Who cares? We're a $70 billion corporation. What are you going to do?'” Bachitter Dhillon said.

But Judge Lasnik blocked the ordinance Tuesday with a temporary restraining order, saying the rideshare business is “likely to be disrupted in fundamental and irreparable ways if the ordinance is implemented."

In a statement, Uber said, “We look forward to the court's full consideration of the many serious legal questions about this ordinance."

Some drivers oppose a union.

“The union was not here when Uber created the job, when Lyft created the job,” one driver said.

While the restraining order is a temporary setback for the drivers who support a union, the judge said “it should not be read as a harbinger of what the ultimate decision in this case will be.”

Cox Media Group