Why the Gig Economy Matters — Even If It’s Small

For better or worse, on-demand companies like Uber and Lyft are a catalyst for changing labor laws that were built for a different era

Sarah Kessler

Sep 18, 2019·6 min read

Uber and Lyft drivers protest outside the Uber offices in Saugus, MA. — Uber and Lyft drivers including Abiye Gelaye, center, protested outside the Uber offices in Saugus, MA on May 8, 2019. Photo: Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe/Getty

When I started reporting on gig workers in 2014, I was surprised to find some of the people who represented labor organizations would respond to my inquiries…