NYC Slams Uber, Lyft for ‘Disinformation’ on Driver Pay Hike

-- New York City’s rideshare regulator said Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. are “spreading disinformation” in emails sent to drivers and riders about proposed rules that would give drivers a roughly 6% pay hike. We encourage the TLC to reconsider its approach and engage with drivers who rely on their vehicles well beyond five years to earn a living.” The New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a group that represents more than 28,000 drivers, told its members in a text message Thursday that Uber is “trying to trick drivers into testifying against your own raise.” Uber is “grasping at the straws” with ways to diminish driver pay, said Zubin Soleimany, an attorney with the alliance. Such unnecessary actions would be entirely their choice.” “It’s inevitable that a rate hike like the one being proposed would increase rider fares and mean fewer rides for drivers,” said Lyft spokesperson CJ Macklin. “That’s because the city’s driver pay formula is fundamentally broken, and the TLC’s proposed ‘solution’ only makes it worse.” In addition to the possibility of higher driver pay in New York City, the two rideshare companies face an antitrust probe from the US Federal Trade Commission on whether they illegally coordinated to limit driver compensation, according to documents seen by Bloomberg News.