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"gewg_" writes:

from the strike-2 dept.

El Reg reports [theregister.co.uk]

Add California's Employment Development Department (EDD) to the list of groups that think Uber drivers are employees and not independent contractors, as the ride-sharer suggests.

The EDD has issued a ruling [regmedia.co.uk] [PDF] that a former Uber driver met the criteria for an employee and was therefore able to collect unemployment benefits.

The case stemmed from a woman who drove for Uber part-time under the UberX service. When she was dismissed for failing to provide Uber with certain documents, she filed to collect unemployment citing Uber as her former employer. The dial-a-ride service objected, claiming the woman was an independent contractor and not an employee when she worked for Uber.

The EDD, which oversees unemployment insurance matters for the state, found that Uber required, among other things, the driver to display Uber's sign on her car, accept trip assignments handed out by Uber, and have ride fares processed and paid by Uber.

"The claimant did not have her own business license to provide services in public transportation and could not establish her own clientele," the EDD ruled.

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