New rules in NY?

Knucklehead Am I wrong in thinking that most messengers are free lance for the company they drop for and so as self employed will have to provide these things themselves?

The law in the US is different to here. Most states (inc NYC) oblige courier cos to pay working mans comp, which provides for basic benefits in the event of work-related injury illness.

Here in the UK, despite conditions that amount to an employer-employee relationship (companies determine hours, rates of pay, insist on exclusivity ie riders can only work for 1 company at a time), the riders are still classified as self-employed subs. The companies can therefore charge for radio, pda, uniform and evade resp for bike, any other equipment and crucially holiday and sick pay.

This in an industry in which a Harvard Medical School study discovered rates of work-related injury 3 times the rate of the next most hazardous occupation in the US (meat-packing).