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The subject of this article frames the argument incorrectly. Some drivers on Uber may have full-time jobs and are just driving for Uber to get a little extra in
by dwg 12y ago
The subject of this article frames the argument incorrectly. Some drivers on Uber may have full-time jobs and are just driving for Uber to get a little extra in their spare time. Those people who treat Uber itself as a job, however, have little to do with the "sharing economy". IMO this is just another labor dispute, not really an issue with a sharing. On a side note, it's too bad a company so young and apparently game changing should be risking a labor dispute so early in its life.
- hywel 12y agoI think the root of the problem is that the drivers are contractors not employees, so have fewer rights. And that's at the heart of the idea behind the sharing economy, that independent individuals with a resource can offer that resource to the marketplace at ad hoc times. Whether or not the article is right is another matter, obviously.
- dwg 12y agoI guess I have a different view of "sharing economy". There are many other businesses which facilitate the connection of contractor to customer, but we don't call them part of the sharing economy. This is true even when they provide the tools (e.g. car) in addition to their services (e.g. driving). The fundamental difference for me comes down to whether they are providing this service as their primary means of livelihood (in which case it's a job), or are they simply looking to make better use of a resource (e.g. car) that they already own but do not fully utilize. Uber seems to be used for both "job" and "share," but the problems seem to be with the former.