Effects of City–State Relations on Labor Relations: The Case of Uber

Abstract

Using case studies of labor’s interaction with Uber in the United States, the author investigates how legal relations between cities and states affect labor relations models. The case studies demonstrate a persistent dilemma for labor actors outside the National Labor Relations Act: While local regulations might be more politically accessible, these interventions are also more legally vulnerable to state and federal preemption attempts. The implications of this common dilemma are explored through the struggles of unions and labor actors with Uber in New York City, Seattle, and California. The case studies show that city–state relations affect both how innovative and how assertive a local labor relations model can afford to be. These findings can influence broader discussions about ossification and power outside traditional labor relations frames.