It’s one of the hottest issues on California’s ballot — and it’s coming to a TV or a computer near you. Proposition 22 would change the rules of the road for Uber, Lyft and DoorDash drivers – along with many others – and there are tens of millions of dollars at stake.It’s a fight that started at the California State Capitol, where Assembly Bill 5 was passed by the legislature and signed into law last year by Gov. Newsom.The new law classifies gig workers who drive for Uber, Lyft and other ride-share firms, as company employees. But Prop 22 – sponsored by those companies to the tune of $185 million – would change all that. | MORE | Legislative Analyst’s Office report on Prop 22Jan Krueger has been driving for Lyft for seven years and is a strong supporter of Prop 22.”With Lyft and Uber potentially shutting down in California if this fails, it’s just vital especially now in this economy, we’ve got to be able to continue these jobs for the people that need them and also for the customers that use these services,” Krueger said.Krueger is featured in the “Yes on 22” campaign ads that are now hitting TV screens and social media everywhere. Prop 22 would allow gig drivers like Krueger to be independent contractors — and neuter AB 5. “Now that I’m retired, the last thing I want is a job,” Krueger said. “ I want to be able to continue to do it on my schedule. So, it’s very important. The flexibility to do it independently is everything to us.”Flexibility is also important to Akamine Kiarie, a Sacramento State student. He said he’s also eager to get extra benefits if Prop 22 passes.“Prop 22 also does introduce some great benefits such as the health care stipend — something that we were not getting before,” Kiaries said. “So that’s great, the extra 30 cents a mile that’s also really nice and workman’s compensation type of insurance, which is also great to have.”Prop 22 does pay for costs when a driver gets injured on the job and it raises the minimum wage for each hour a driver spends driving. Opponents of Prop 22 insist the measure is flawed. “No on 22″ spokesperson Mike Roth said it “will not provide one day of paid sick leave. It won’t provide one day of unemployment, worker’s comp or paid family leave.”Hector Castellanos, a gig driver for Uber and Lyft, said ride-share operators deserve greater protections that come with being a company employee. “It’s nothing to do with flexibility,” Castellanos said. “It’s just misclassification, we are employees and we need these benefits especially in this pandemic.”“We need the representation on these companies so that we can keep fighting,” he addedOrganized labor is actively fighting Prop 22: “There is no flexibility when Uber, Lyft and DoorDash can turn off your app at the drop of a hat,” Roth said. “There’s no flexibility when you have to take time off for a family member or yourself and you are not paid sick leave.”There is a lot of money riding on the outcome of this initiative.Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Postmates have poured in some $185 million in support of Prop 22, according to Voter’s Edge California. Meanwhile, labor organizations like the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union have spent roughly $13 million to defeat it. “Companies like Uber and Lyft and DoorDash should not be able to buy and create their own laws,” Roth said.Many supporters of Prop 22 see it as an issue of racial equity. “We understand that ride-share drivers and delivery folks are mostly minorities,” said Dr. Tecoy Porter of the National Action Network. Porter, who is a senior pastor at Genesis Church in Sacramento, added “So, this is really important for Black and Brown communities really struggling in this area already. And so, we want to make sure that we keep jobs in California.”Prop 22 will have a direct impact on tens of thousands of gig workers – and jobs in California – no matter who wins the battle.
It’s one of the hottest issues on California’s ballot — and it’s coming to a TV or a computer near you.
Proposition 22 would change the rules of the road for Uber, Lyft and DoorDash drivers – along with many others – and there are tens of millions of dollars at stake.
It’s a fight that started at the California State Capitol, where Assembly Bill 5 was passed by the legislature and signed into law last year by Gov. Newsom.
The new law classifies gig workers who drive for Uber, Lyft and other ride-share firms, as company employees. But Prop 22 – sponsored by those companies to the tune of $185 million – would change all that.
| MORE | Legislative Analyst’s Office report on Prop 22
Jan Krueger has been driving for Lyft for seven years and is a strong supporter of Prop 22.
“With Lyft and Uber potentially shutting down in California if this fails, it’s just vital especially now in this economy, we’ve got to be able to continue these jobs for the people that need them and also for the customers that use these services,” Krueger said.
Krueger is featured in the “Yes on 22” campaign ads that are now hitting TV screens and social media everywhere.
Prop 22 would allow gig drivers like Krueger to be independent contractors — and neuter AB 5.
“Now that I’m retired, the last thing I want is a job,” Krueger said. “ I want to be able to continue to do it on my schedule. So, it’s very important. The flexibility to do it independently is everything to us.”
Flexibility is also important to Akamine Kiarie, a Sacramento State student. He said he’s also eager to get extra benefits if Prop 22 passes.
“Prop 22 also does introduce some great benefits such as the health care stipend — something that we were not getting before,” Kiaries said. “So that’s great, the extra 30 cents a mile that’s also really nice and workman’s compensation type of insurance, which is also great to have.”
Prop 22 does pay for costs when a driver gets injured on the job and it raises the minimum wage for each hour a driver spends driving.
Opponents of Prop 22 insist the measure is flawed. “No on 22” spokesperson Mike Roth said it “will not provide one day of paid sick leave. It won’t provide one day of unemployment, worker’s comp or paid family leave.”
Hector Castellanos, a gig driver for Uber and Lyft, said ride-share operators deserve greater protections that come with being a company employee.
“It’s nothing to do with flexibility,” Castellanos said. “It’s just misclassification, we are employees and we need these benefits especially in this pandemic.”
“We need the representation on these companies so that we can keep fighting,” he added
Organized labor is actively fighting Prop 22:
“There is no flexibility when Uber, Lyft and DoorDash can turn off your app at the drop of a hat,” Roth said. “There’s no flexibility when you have to take time off for a family member or yourself and you are not paid sick leave.”
There is a lot of money riding on the outcome of this initiative.
Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Postmates have poured in some $185 million in support of Prop 22, according to Voter’s Edge California.
Meanwhile, labor organizations like the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union have spent roughly $13 million to defeat it.
“Companies like Uber and Lyft and DoorDash should not be able to buy and create their own laws,” Roth said.
Many supporters of Prop 22 see it as an issue of racial equity.
“We understand that ride-share drivers and delivery folks are mostly minorities,” said Dr. Tecoy Porter of the National Action Network.
Porter, who is a senior pastor at Genesis Church in Sacramento, added “So, this is really important for Black and Brown communities really struggling in this area already. And so, we want to make sure that we keep jobs in California.”
Prop 22 will have a direct impact on tens of thousands of gig workers – and jobs in California – no matter who wins the battle.