A judge in Seattle has handed ride-hailing companies a temporary victory, in a closely watched legal battle over whether drivers for Uber and Lyft can join a union and undertake collective bargaining.

Seattle became the first city in the US to pass an ordinance allowing ride-share drivers to unionise, but that law has been challenged by the US Chamber of Commerce on the grounds that it conflicts with federal labour and antitrust laws.

…

“It could very well go to the Supreme Court,” said William Gould, a Stanford Law professor who has written a paper on the case. “Other states and cities are waiting to see how this will be resolved,” he said, adding that an outcome that was favourable to the unions could see more cities pass similar legislation.