Lyft partnership is “social justice greenwashing” of their exploitive business practices
Eddy Hernandez
Given the fact that current or former board members are from Lyft and this recent investigative report, https://themarkup.org/news/2021/06/17/uber-and-lyft-donated-to-community-groups-who-then-pushed-the-companies-agenda, I strongly believe that there is not only a conflict of interest but a conflict of values. I have seen zero support from Lyft employees in the channel towards driver organizing efforts for basic rights like a living wage, paid time off and adequate representation in the work place. Instead they get us to do PR events for them.
“It’s a proactive attempt to cloak themselves in racial justice … and creates a political environment where they cannot be accused of racism because they have created allies in minority communities,” said Dubal, the Hastings law professor.
Let’s not let that happen and instead show solidarity with drivers organizing for their rights.
C
Chloe Potsklan
Hi Eddy,
Thank you for your feedback. The board is aware of that conflict of interest and because of that, that member in particular has not been part of the process of vetting, exploring, debating, and moving forward with the Lyft partnership.
Due to the feedback, debate, and concern from the community, we decided to leave the the final decision up to the community in the form of a Polly Poll that we shared and promoted within #Announcements (https://techqueria.slack.com/archives/C0KQMNU5A/p1620666059251700).
The poll was open from May 10-17th and resulted in a majority agreeing with moving forward with the partnership. Going forward, we will still be sticking with our No Tech For ICE policy but also work on an expanded Do No Harm Policy. Additionally, for companies that exist in more of an ethical grey-area, we have decided to put those to community votes as needed with a similar work flow as described above.
The feedback from the community is something that we value and something that is taken into consideration especially as we build towards the future of Techqueria.
Eddy Hernandez
For more on the dangers of this, please review this short documentary on Prop 22 https://youtu.be/gQzw8MVlQlo
Lastly, Lyft and other gig companies are trying to push similar laws across the US and are lobbying to influence the PROAct in their favor. We need to decide who we’re supporting. A handful of techqueria people who make it at these tech companies or the frontline workers given a 2nd tier class of employment who include members of our communities. We should stand with gig workers. I suggest we craft a solidarity statement and make demands for these companies to pay a living wage, provide benefits and give adequate representation to drivers if not work directly with these groups to offer any support we can.