The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) congratulates affiliates Workers First Union and E tū on a landmark, unanimous victory in the Supreme Court of Aotearoa New Zealand – a ruling that confirms Uber drivers are employees, not contractors, under New Zealand law.
After years of legal challenges and following rulings in the drivers’ favour at every stage, the country’s highest court has now issued a final, definitive judgement: these workers were misclassified, and Uber must treat them as employees with full employment rights.
What the Supreme Court decided
The case was filed in July 2021 by Workers First Union and E tū on behalf of four Uber drivers. For years, the drivers and unions argued that Uber’s model deliberately denied protections including minimum wage, holiday pay, sick leave, and the right to challenge unfair treatment. (....)