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Related: About this forumWhy We’re All Becoming Independent Contractors by Robert Reich
Sunday, February 22, 2015GM is worth around $60 billion, and has over 200,000 employees. Its front-line workers earn from $19 to $28.50 an hour, with benefits.
Uber is estimated to be worth some $40 billion, and has 850 employees. Uber also has over 163,000 drivers (as of December the number is expected to double by June), who average $17 an hour in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and $23 an hour in San Francisco and New York.
But Uber doesnt count these drivers as employees. Uber says theyre independent contractors.
What difference does it make?
For one thing, GM workers dont have to pay for the machines they use. But Uber drivers pay for their cars not just buying them but also their maintenance, insurance, gas, oil changes, tires, and cleaning. Subtract these costs and Uber drivers hourly pay drops considerably.
http://robertreich.org/post/111784272135
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Why We’re All Becoming Independent Contractors by Robert Reich (Original Post)
Crewleader
Feb 2015
OP
Demeter
(85,373 posts)1. Because in the corner office, workers are seen as interchangable widgets
Not valued employees who make the profits for the boss.
Adsos Letter
(19,459 posts)2. This became popular in the construction trades around here
trying to classify workers as independent contractors.
airplaneman
(1,239 posts)3. and dont forget the other GM perks also worth money
Vacation, sick leave, health care, 401K matching. All of this can easily double the earning figures
listed.
-Airplane