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DEO rules Uber drivers are independent contractors for employment purposes

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The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity issued a final order Thursday afternoon ruling that drivers for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are “independent contractors” rather than employees per se. As such, drivers for the transportation network companies do not qualify for unemployment benefits, which are paid in part by the former employers of laid off workers. “The Department finds that the drivers at issue here—providers of transportation services through the Uber software application—are independent contractors, not employees, and are therefore not entitled to…

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Miami-Dade to get new Uber carpool service

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Uber is taking the next big step in trying to break Miami-Dade’s growing traffic congestion. On Thursday, the San Francisco-based ride-sharing tech company launches uberPOOL, a next-generation carpool service that matches passengers going in the same direction, while allowing them to split the cost of the ride. Ryan Graves, Uber’s Senior Vice President and Head of Global Operations, says that Miami-Dade will be one of the “handful of U.S. communities” to test market uberPOOL, in an effort to “impact riders, drivers…

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Uber tackles public policy issues with newly launched “Under the Hood” blog

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As Uber continues its expansion across the globe, a new company-sponsored public policy blog will touch on several issues facing the popular ridesharing service, such as car insurance and company benefits. Uber Under the Hood, launched Wednesday, is the latest effort by the San Francisco-based company to garner more support as it deals with lawmakers and local regulators. The blog will feature a broad range of what Washington Post reporter Brian Fung calls “wonky topics,” including posts by employees, industry…

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Dana Young says she’s all-in on Uber debate

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House Republican Leader Dana Young has stood aside while other lawmakers tried to suss out how to regulate hired-car outfits like Uber and Lyft. But her time on the sidelines is over, she told FloridaPolitics.com on Friday. “I will be putting all my energy into this,” said Young, who’s represented her Tampa district since 2010. She didn’t say which of the many competing policy proposals she will eventually support. Young explained that she stayed out of the debate because she was tied up…

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An Uber driver tells all

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As the war between taxicab companies and app-based transportation services like Uber and Lyft heats up, it’s always fascinating to get the take of one of the foot soldiers in the conflict. After all, the grunts on the front lines are the ones actually trudging through mud (actually it’s drunk passengers’ vomit) dodging shrapnel (traffic tickets, usually) and often dealing with some form of PTSD once deployment is done (constant flashbacks to that one horrific carload from Ybor City). So…

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Oh, Florida House — state Rep. Ritch Workman moonlighting as Uber driver

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Last session, “transportation network services” like Uber and Lyft were one of myriad issues where the House and Senate diverged — the House position was enthusiastically pro-Uber, while the Senate was more reticent. But state Rep. Ritch Workman has taken his support for ridesharing to a whole new level. FloridaPolitics.com has learned — and a rep for Uber has confirmed — that the House Rules Committee Chairman has taken up a side job as a “driver partner” for the ride-hailing service. In the photo below,…

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After pointed Broward pull-out, Uber set to take ride-hailing fight to Tallahassee City Hall

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On the heels of Uber‘s announcement of its planned end to operations in Broward County effective July 31, the San Francisco-based firm is enlisting “ridesharing” fellow travelers to join them Wednesday night as Capital City commissioners debate an ordinance to regulate them in a manner similar to taxi companies. Just nine days ahead of the scheduled completion of a Broward County “TNC Implementation Plan” to end Uber’s current legal “gray area” status, Uber walked away from the negotiating table, opting to simply leave…

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