The following statement can be attributed to Héctor Figueroa, president of 32BJ SEIU:

“By approving this historic legislation package, New York’s City Council has taken an important step to benefit the drivers who keep New Yorkers moving, as well as riders who need these services to be accessible, affordable and available. The bills address the economic crisis hurting all drivers while making sure more New Yorkers, including those who rely on app-based cars for hire, have access to the transportation they need.

“App-based companies like Uber and Lyft have spent millions of dollars from their Wall Street backers to try to fool New Yorkers into keeping a system that pits drivers against each other in a race to the bottom, while squeezing customers. But don’t be fooled — the only thing these companies have been intent on protecting is their profits.

“This victory shows the power that workers coming together in a common purpose, speaking out and supporting each other. This was possible because drivers from all sectors — yellow, green and livery cabs, and those working for app-based companies — joined together, organized and did not give up, even as many of them continued to drive long shifts to keep up. We will continue to support the Taxi Workers Alliance and all drivers as they seek a just system that will allow them to support their families and benefit their communities.”

With 163,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., including over 85,000 in New York, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.