Ontario Superior Court of Justice certifies Uber class-action lawsuit

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has certified the class-action lawsuit against Uber which strives to recognize Uber drivers as employees. The certification is the most recent step in a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of David Heller by Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Uber has yet to acknowledge its drivers as employees and so drivers are not entitled to minimum wage, vacation and sick pay, benefits, etc.

Learn more
• Supreme Court of Canada Rules Against Uber
• Uber Class-action Lawsuit

A Toronto employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke with the Canadian Press and comments on the disadvantages drivers continue to face.

“Uber has complete control over these drivers, when they work, how they work, what they get paid for the work that they do,” said the lawyer.

“I could go on and on, but there are so many examples of how Uber has this control over these drivers, yet the drivers don’t have the benefits and the protections that employees would normally have in situations, where the employer is in control.”

The lawyer went on to explain that a win for the drivers could be a landmark decision. “It will change the landscape of employment because a lot of these companies, including Uber, up until now have been able to get away with misclassifying their drivers, and so they essentially reap all the benefits now.”

More coverage and information on the certification and class-action lawsuit can be found at CP24, CTV, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and Winnipeg Free Press.