New York City Council weighs 'just cause' rule for app-based food delivery drivers
Proposed ordinance would bar deactivations without cause, require notice and arbitration, as critics warn of higher costs and fewer deliveries.
New York City’s City Council is weighing a bill that would curb how app-based food delivery platforms can deactivate drivers, aiming to require what proponents call “just cause” before termination and to impose notice and dispute-resolution requirements on the platforms that rely on bicycle and scooter couriers to move meals from restaurants to customers. The measure targets the business model of large delivery apps such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, which have built extensive networks of freelance or independent contractors who deliver orders on-demand.
Under the proposal, the apps would be prohibited from deactivating a driver simply for slow performance or personal discretion. The bill would require the platform to show that the driver violated specific rules and to provide written explanations to the worker. It would also mandate 15 days of advance notice before any deactivation and require a longer 120-day notice period in cases deemed bona fide economic distress for the platform. The law would further restrict terminations by requiring the company to demonstrate that the driver knowingly violated the rules, rather than acting on unclear or subjective grounds. If a termination is challenged, an arbitration mechanism would come into play, with back pay, potential lawyers’ fees, and thousands of dollars in penalties if the worker’s termination is found to have been done “without cause.” ![Delivery workers and policy debate](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/newspress-collage-4we5e8x7o-1758666206671.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1758652186&w=1024