Members of the Minneapolis City Council and legislative leaders are announcing a deal on rideshare legislation Monday afternoon that they hope will save those services from leaving.
The group has been working for weeks to come up with a minimum wage and labor protections for drivers. That proposed wage is a $1.27 per mile and 49 cents per minute, which the authors say aligns with other major metropolitan areas.
A recently-adopted Minneapolis ordinance would pay drivers more than that starting in July, which prompted rideshare companies Uber and Lyft to declare they will leave the Twin Cities.
Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne talked with WCCO's Jason DeRusha on Monday.
"We've heard pretty clearly from Uber and Lyft about what their preferences are," says Payne. "It's very clear that their preference is not to pass any legislation that protects drivers."
Lyft has issued a statement threatening to leave the entire state if this statewide measure passes.
Uber shared a statement with WCCO Radio on Monday saying more work needs to be done and that this current proposal would still force them to leave the Twin Cities.
“It's disappointing some in the legislature are allowing the Minneapolis City Council to drive a decision that impacts millions of people who don't live in the City," says Uber's statement. "We've made a serious offers and hope we can still work with the Governor and legislature on a statewide solution that allows rideshare to remain in the state.”
It will be introduced in the House Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committee on Tuesday.