AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYORS ASSOCIATION SIGNALS SUPPORT FOR APP-BASED WORKERS AS DOL CONSIDERS RULE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 15, 2022

Contact: media@flexassociation.org

Washington, DC – This week, the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) passed a resolution urging federal authorities to protect flexible, independent working opportunities that provide economic opportunity for communities of color.

The Mayors’ push comes as the U.S. Department of Labor considers a proposal that could reclassify many independent workers, including app-based workers, as employees. The comment period for the rule closed on December 13, and garnered over 50,000 comments from organizations and individuals weighing in on its potential impact. The proposed rule could strip more than 23 million Americans who choose flexible, app-based work of their choice to work independently in the app-based economy.

Sponsored by AAMA President Frank Scott Jr. of Little Rock, AR, Second Vice President Steven Reed of Montgomery, AL, and former AAMA President Hardie Davis of Augusta, GA, the resolution urges federal policymakers to preserve flexible work opportunities and highlights the app-based industry’s contributions to underserved communities.

“App-based work empowers our communities to make a living on their own terms, achieve their entrepreneurial goals, and pursue their dreams.” said AAMA President Frank Scott Jr., Mayor of Little Rock, AK. “Preserving opportunities for economic equity is a top priority of the African American Mayors Association, and I’m proud to sponsor this resolution urging policymakers at all levels of government to protect these critical avenues to economic power for app-based workers.

“Access to economic opportunity is vital to breaking the cycle of poverty and inequity. The app-based industry has consistently provided this access: injecting millions into Black communities and creating pathways to financial stability and prosperity,” said former AAMA President and Columbia, South Carolina Mayor Stephen Benjamin. “Our communities are stronger when we work together, and the overwhelming support for today’s resolution reflects the strong commitment within AAMA to further policy solutions that spur economic growth for cities nationwide.”

“The app-based industry gives rideshare and delivery partners unprecedented control over when, where, and for whom they work,” the resolution reads. “This pivotal moment for the industry and the broader economy requires modern frameworks that can protect the flexibility app-based workers want and provide access to benefits when they need them. The African American Mayors Association calls for policy solutions that ensure the independence and flexibility that has allowed millions from underserved communities to build economic power and resources on their own terms and urges its federal counterparts to do the same.”

Copies of the resolution will be delivered to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, Members of Congress, House and Senate Leadership, and other relevant federal officials. Read the full resolution here.

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About AAMA

The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization exclusively representing African-American mayors in the United States. AAMA exists to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the African American Mayors Association includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.

About Flex Association

Flex is the voice of the app-based economy, representing America's leading app-based rideshare and delivery platforms and the people who count on them. Our member companies —DoorDash, Gopuff, Grubhub, HopSkipDrive, Instacart, Lyft, Shipt, and Uber—help provide access to crucial goods and services to customers safely and efficiently, offer flexible earning opportunities to workers, and support economic growth in communities across the country. Together, we advocate for policies that enable our industry to continue delivering for the people who count on our platforms.