Partners for Justice (PFJ) co-founder Emily Galvin-Almanza, a former California public defender, said in a May 26 opinion piece that PFJ's partnership with Uber, which provides free rides to court dates, could be impacted if the California Supreme Court overturns Proposition 22.
"These free rides can be life-changing: in just a matter of months, we had several clients able to make it to court on time and avoid getting arrested for their absences, keeping families together and sparing people jail time," said Galvin-Almanza. "We've had sick clients use these rides to get to medical care, and disabled clients use these rides to make it to appointments they couldn't reach on their own. In the brouhaha over what will happen in the pending Proposition 22 litigation, which may result in the reclassification of Uber drivers as employees rather than contractors, it is tempting to worry about what happens next. After all, these free rides to court and vital appointments have, at times, quite literally saved people's lives, and protected families from the separation of having their loved one jailed."
California voters approved Proposition 22 in 2020, classifying gig workers as independent contractors rather than employees, CalMatters reported. An appellate court upheld Proposition 22 after a Superior Court judge found it unconstitutional, and the state’s Supreme Court is now reviewing the measure. The Justices heard oral arguments in the case in May. Workers who spoke in support of Proposition 22 said they value the measure’s guaranteed earnings provisions, as well as the flexibility they get from being independent contractors.
According to Galvin-Almanza, PFJ’s partnership with Uber benefits low-income individuals who get arrested but are unable to afford transportation to court dates and other required appointments. She said transportation is one of the contributors to mass incarceration because many people do not have the ability to get to court, probation meetings, and therapy programs. In some cases, clients risk incarceration if they fail to appear at court or other mandated appointments.
Proposition 22 "provides historic and important protections and guarantees to workers in California," according to a post on Uber’s website. Benefits for Uber drivers and couriers under Proposition 22 include health care stipends for drivers who do not have access to health insurance plans, a minimum earnings guarantee of at least 120% of minimum wage and 35 cents per mile, and occupational accident insurance.
Companies like Uber and Lyft have said they might leave California if their drivers become classified as full-time employees, citing increased labor costs, Newsweek reported.
Galvin-Almanza worked with the Los Angeles and Santa Clara County Public Defenders’ Offices prior to co-founding Partners for Justice, according to the organization’s website.