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Uber, Lyft Have Long Screwed Gig Workers with ‘Independent Contractor’ Scam — Now Taxpayers Provide the Bailout

Taxi apps have a long history of denying workers basic protections. That's blowing up in all our faces right now.
Uber, Lyft Have Long Screwed Gig Workers with ‘Independent Contractor’ Scam — Now Taxpayers Provide the Bailout
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Kea Wilson has more than a dozen years of experience as a writer telling emotional, urgent and actionable stories that motivate average Americans to get involved in making their cities better places. She is also a novelist, cyclist, and affordable housing advocate. She previously worked at Strong Towns, and currently lives in St. Louis, MO. Kea can be reached at kea@streetsblog.org or on Twitter @streetsblogkea. Please reach out to her with tips and submissions.

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