Uber and Lyft drivers will remain independent Contractors

The op-ed “Vote ‘no’ on Question 3” on Oct. 17 contained a significant factual inaccuracy. The author stated that “the majority of Uber drivers do not want to be classified as employees.”

This is misleading. According to an Oct. 22 article in The Harvard Crimson, even if the ballot measure passes, drivers will remain classified as independent contractors, not employees. This distinction is critical and directly undermines the tax argument presented in the piece.

I’m voting “yes” on Question 3 because drivers should have the right to unionize and negotiate for fairer conditions, without losing their independent contractor status. I’m not sure if the error in the op-ed was a misunderstanding or part of a broader PR campaign by Uber and Lyft, but I hope the Recorder will ensure more thorough fact-checking in future publications.

The writer’s argument was initially convincing, so I looked into it and found the claim to be false through a simple internet search. It’s important that readers have accurate information when forming their opinions. For these reasons, I encourage others to vote “yes” on Question 3.

Paul Bennett

Shelburne Falls