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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 22, 2026
Contact:
Eliza Bates, 646.285.8491, Media@nytwa.org
Federal Judge Blocks Just Cause Rights for NYC Uber & Lyft Drivers in Misguided, Wrong, Extreme Pro-Corporation Decision
The City Must Appeal the Preliminary Injunction of Local Law 52; Uber/Lyft Ran to Court in Hopes of Stopping Us but Our Fight Continues
In a misguided ruling, today, Federal Judge Gregory Woods granted Uber and Lyft’s request for a Preliminary Injunction, blocking Local Law 52, which would protect drivers against unfair deactivation, from going into effect on July 28th, until the final outcome of the court case.
Statement from Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director, New York Taxi Workers Alliance:
Judge Woods' misguided 53-page decision boils down to one point: he claims the city's law has to cover all of society and sees drivers as a "narrow class." It's an extreme, pro-corporation position that would be a danger to the rights of every working person if it were allowed to stand.
The decision is a punch in the gut to New York City workers and a slap in the face of democracy, endangering the city's ability to enact any workforce-specific regulations.
Uber and Lyft's greedy business model set out to "gigify" driving jobs, destroying full-time pay in a profession that was once a pathway to the middle class. In 2017, the two companies hired more lobbyists than Walmart, Amazon, and Microsoft combined.
When their lobbyists lost the fight at New York City Hall, they turned to the increasingly conservative, anti-democratic, and pro-corporation courts to do their dirty work of keeping drivers exploited.
New York City Uber and Lyft drivers fought for more than three years to end the crisis of unfair firings that left families in poverty and debt, with no incomes overnight and no fair recourse. We won't back down from our fight for justice and for just cause – especially after a court decision so extreme and dangerous to the rights of all workers.
New York City Uber, Lyft, and yellow cab drivers have been on the frontlines of fighting back against the oligarchy for decades. We don't quiver on our knees from setbacks. We fight back. This is far from over – life without poverty, job security as working people, and dignity on the job are non-negotiable. Even heartbroken – we are more determined than ever.
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