Uber Reaches Deal With Labor Union for Its New York City Drivers

Car service app Uber has reached an agreement with a well-known labor union to provide its 35,000 New York City drivers with some benefits and a platform to discuss labor issues, according to a Tuesday report from The New York Times. Uber will be working with the Independent Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, but the deal does not mean these drivers are unionized. Uber drivers have long complained about their classification as independent contractors, which exempts them from the protective umbrella of labor laws, such as overtime and paid sick days. The labor deal for New York drivers comes as the company faces headwinds in other cities. On Monday, both Uber and its rival service Lyft suspended service in Austin, Texas, after lawmakers implemented new measures requiring drivers to be fingerprinted. TheStreet's Scott Gamm reports from Wall Street.