Ride-share drivers and gig workers in California have renewed their legal challenges of the newly enacted Proposition 22 within the state.
Prop. 22 recently was approved to amend state law to allow ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft to treat their workers as independent contractors rather than employees. By hiring them as contractors instead of employees, the companies do not need to provide additional benefits to their workers.
The proposition has been challenged once before, but that case was voided by the state Supreme Court. However, it was refiled in Alameda County Court district, similar to initial claims, and the plaintiffs include the Service Employees International Union. Plaintiffs argue that Prop. 22 not only limits workers’ abilities to organize, but also prevents them from accessing state worker compensation programs.
“With Prop. 22, Uber, Lyft, Doordash and the other gig giants overreached by writing a law that violates our state’s constitution and puts corporate profits ahead of workers’ safety and basic rights," Alameda County ride-share driver Saori Okawa said.
Okawa has driven for Uber, Lyft, Doordash and Instacart.
When Prop. 22 was first introduced, ride-share companies spent tens of millions of dollars promoting the amendment. Uber was even sued in the process, as drivers were required to scroll through Prop. 22 “propaganda” nearly every time they logged into their accounts.
“Special interests have consistently refused to accept the overwhelming desire of drivers to remain independent since it doesn't fit their political agenda. Now, they’re continuing to undermine the will of California voters across the political spectrum who overwhelmingly passed Prop. 22," Jimmy Strano, another Alameda-based driver, said. “We’re confident these attacks on California voters and our electoral process will continue to be rejected by the courts.”