In a landmark move for gig workers, Washington lawmakers have greenlit a bill that promises to bolster the safety net for bereaved families of rideshare drivers. The newly passed legislation, known as HB 2382, guarantees that survivor benefits are provided under the state workers’ compensation system, not just when a driver is ferrying a passenger, but also while they are logged into the app awaiting a trip. Prior to this, families were left in the lurch if a driver died in the latter scenario, a gap that the bill aims to permanently close.
Rideshare drivers in Washington have found themselves, all too often, victims of violence while on the job. According to the Drivers Union, affiliated with Teamsters 117, the state has seen the murder of five drivers since 2020. In an effort to correct this harrowing oversight, the state's lawmakers made the pivotal decision to ensure that families of these slain workers are duly compensated. "Victories such as today's, which support grieving families at a time of immeasurable loss, move us one giant step closer to ensuring that no workers fall through the cracks of our safety net," Rep. Liz Berry articulated in a statement obtained by GeekWire.
The bill sailed through the state senate with a 32-17 vote and had previously cleared the House on February 13 with a 57-40 vote. This pivotal piece of legislation is now poised to land on Gov. Jay Inslee's desk, where it is anticipated to be signed into law, as reported by Business Insurance.
Long-time rideshare driver Essam Elmubarak, who spoke with KIRO 7, acknowledged the inherent dangers of the job. "And sometimes, you know, he just got shot for no reason," Elmubarak said. With the bill's passage, he believes that the drivers' families are going to be left in a better position, financially secure in the midst of tragedy: "After this bill passed, I think they are going to be in a better situation. No doubt," he told KIRO 7.
Proponents like Rep. Liz Berry advocate that this legislative amendment is a necessary step to rectify a grave injustice. "It closes a current loophole in state law to make these families whole once they suffer immeasurable loss of having their loved one killed on the job," Berry stated, as per a KIRO 7 interview. The bill promises to provide much-needed assurance for the families who have to unexpectedly bear the loss of a loved one.
