By Kamal Ahmed
The New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), a union representing approximately 28,000 New York City taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers, will hold a rally outside Uber’s headquarters on July 14 to protest the company’s lawsuit seeking to block Local Law 52, legislation intended to protect drivers from unfair deactivations.
The demonstration is scheduled to take place just two days before a court hearing in the case and is expected to draw taxi and app-based drivers from across the city.
NYTWA Executive Director Bhairavi Desai has urged drivers to gather at 1:00 p.m. outside Uber’s headquarters on Church Street between Dey and Cortlandt streets, calling for a strong turnout in support of driver job security.
“After losing at City Hall, Uber and Lyft are using their millions to sue New York City in a shameful attempt to stop our hard-fought Local Law 52 (introduced as Intro 276) from taking effect,”according to a statement issued by the alliance.
The statement further said, “No Driver! No Uber! No Driver! No Lyft! We won’t sit back and let any power-hungry billionaire corporations stop us from securing the job protections drivers deserve.”
On June 10, Uber filed a lawsuit seeking to block Local Law 52, arguing that the legislation would interfere with its ability to remove drivers from its platform. Less than 24 hours later, Lyft filed a similar lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan.
The two transportation network companies (TNCs), which collectively serve the majority of New York City’s approximately 180,000 app-based drivers, argue that the law could make it more difficult to remove drivers who pose potential risks to passenger and public safety.
The legislation was enacted after the New York City Council voted on February 1 to override former Mayor Eric Adams’ veto, which had been issued on December 31, 2025.
Local Law 52 is scheduled to take effect on July 28, 2026. Under the law, ride-hailing companies would be prohibited from deactivating drivers without just cause. Companies would also be required to provide at least 14 days’ notice before deactivation, except in cases involving alleged egregious misconduct.
The law further allows drivers who are found to have been wrongfully deactivated to seek compensation for lost wages during the period they were unable to work.
“Drivers will be entitled to back pay for the income you lost during the time you were illegally deactivated,” Desai previously told TLC Drivers Voice.
