Within Uber-Waymo split, a key labor battle over AVs is being waged in the nation's capital

📰 source: cnbc_topnews · 💼 business

uber is siding with labor unions to oppose a washington, d.c. bill that would allow widespread autonomous vehicle deployment. the bill, called the autonomous vehicle deployment authorization amendment act, faces scrutiny from organized labor over job losses and safety concerns. d.c. has an estimated 35,000 gig drivers, about 9% of its labor force, and the metro area has lost over 100,000 jobs in a year. uber's harry hatfield testified that the bill ignores the workforce transition and called for a hybrid network where human drivers and avs operate side by side. uber has spent $10 billion on av development but now warns that waymo could monopolize local markets. in new jersey, uber is backing legislation requiring 85% of rideshare work to be done by human drivers. waymo argues the d.c. bill wouldn't ban hybrid networks and says it would hire hundreds of workers if approved. unions remain skeptical, pointing to california data showing one av replaces roughly four drivers. the alliance is notable given uber's long history of fighting unions, including a $59 million campaign for prop 22 in 2020.

why it matters: uber's alliance with unions against waymo's av expansion signals a political shift over driver jobs and autonomous vehicle regulation in u.s. cities.

source: cnbc_topnews
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