The wool comes out of the sheep! Uber adds California drivers to pay for its benefits

Uber, the ride-sharing company, is adding ride-sharing and delivery fees in California to pay for the state’s new driver benefits.

The popular support for Proposition 22, which was voted on in November, means that Uber and Lyft, which combine service resources and demand through apps, will not be affected by the new labor law AB5, which was formally adopted earlier this year, and can maintain the operation of gig economy independent entities.

In defending Proposition 22, the companies stressed that while not as generous as AB5, they would increase the benefits of driving. Uber told California riders this week that it would offer new benefits to drivers and delivery drivers, including a minimum wage guarantee, injury insurance and medical benefits, with the cost borne by the passenger.

“You will see the addition of a California Driving benefit every time you enjoy a ride or delivery service, allowing these benefits and benefits to be realized,” Uner said in the notice.

In response to questions from the media, Uber said the fees vary by location and service, ranging from 30 cents to $1.50 for rides, including 30 cents per ride in San Francisco and 75 cents per ride in Los Angeles. For Uber Eats, a food delivery service, fares range from 99 cents (In Los Angeles) to $2 (in San Francisco).

A spokeswoman for DoorDash said the company would not charge a flat fee, but confirmed that it was “exploring a small increase in the service charge for orders in California starting Wednesday.”

The spokesperson also noted that DoorDash is considering adjusting certain promotions for its Dash Pass subscription service, which may affect prices for certain customers. “The company will closely monitor the impact and adjust as the measures continue to be implemented,” she said.

Lyft-us did not immediately respond to questions about whether it would adopt a similar plan to pass on the cost of the new benefits for drivers in California, but according to the company’s website, it charges riders a “platform fee” and a “service fee” for each ride.

The site notes that the platform fee is a floating amount to keep the platform running, update the app and keep the community growing, while the service fee is a fixed amount to support regulation, security and operating costs.