California Voters Approve Tech-Backed Proposition 22 to Strip Gig Worker Protections
Following a massive $200 million campaign by Uber and Lyft, California passes Proposition 22 to permanently deny gig workers standard labor protections. Tech companies now plan to push this model to other states.
California voters pass Proposition 22 after ride-share giants Uber and Lyft spend $200 million on a sweeping propaganda campaign. This new law permanently excludes online platform workers from standard labor protections, classifying them as independent contractors rather than employees.
The passage of this initiative allows tech companies to bypass existing state labor laws like AB 5, which previously guaranteed basic benefits to gig workers. By funding and writing their own ballot measures, these corporations successfully carve out legal exemptions that prioritize their profits over worker safety and security.
Emboldened by this victory at the ballot box, the tech companies now openly discuss expanding this legislative strategy to other states across the country. This approach essentially allows wealthy tech platforms to dictate employment law directly, bypassing the traditional legislative process to maintain their cheap labor model.