Uber drivers are now considered employees and not independent contractors according to the California Labor Commission. Uber has always considered itself a ?logistics company? and not a full blown employer for its drivers. Uber is also claiming that the ruling only applies to one driver. Either way, this could be the start of many employees in the virtual labor marketplace gaining rights.
See "California Says Uber Driver Is Employee, Not a Contractor", Mike Isaac and Natasha Singer, The New York Times, June 16, 2015