FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2023
Contact: Jonna Huseman, jhuseman@twu.org

The TWU Encourages Wholistic Approach to Micromobility Industry Best Practices

Washington, DC—John Samuelsen, International President of the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), issues this statement in response to the North America Micromobility Industry Best Practices framework issued by Lime, Superpedestrian, Bird, and Spin:

“The micromobility industry has the potential to easily and affordably connect communities and expand transportation options to underserved populations, all while creating good jobs in the process. Any effort to upend these goals should be met with skepticism, which is why the TWU has serious concerns regarding the North America Micromobility Industry Best Practices framework laid out by anti-union, anti-worker micromobility companies Lime, Superpedestrian, Bird, and Spin.

“Any best practices framework for the micromobility industry should include strong labor standards to ensure good jobs and living wages, input from those this industry is designed to serve, and acknowledge the essential role that docked micromobility systems have in our larger transportation systems. The proposal put forth by the anti-worker companies contains none of these features.

“While the TWU does believe the industry has established best practices in many areas that should be uplifted and shared, this document is not an honest attempt to create such a framework. The anti-worker companies have put forth a self-serving cash grab with the hope of gaslighting cities into allowing them more access to local communities. Our elected leaders at every level must see this framework for what it is—a sales stunt—and ignore it in favor of more wholistic approaches to solve emerging micromobility challenges.”

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The TWU represents more than 155,000 workers across the airline, railroad, transit, universities, utilities and service sectors. The TWU is the largest airline workers union in the United States.