Rideshare Drivers Demand $110 Million COVID-19 Relief Fund From Uber and Lyft
Gig workers urge Uber and Lyft to redirect millions spent on an anti-AB 5 political campaign into a coronavirus assistance fund. The Mobile Workers Alliance highlights the urgent need for financial support as drivers face the ongoing health crisis.
Rideshare drivers demand that Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. establish a $110 million assistance fund to help workers navigate the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Members of the Mobile Workers Alliance point out that this exact amount currently funds a political campaign aimed at stopping gig workers from achieving employee status under California law.
The workers specifically call on these platform operators to halt their financial support for the ballot initiative designed to shield the companies from A.B. 5 compliance. Instead of pouring resources into this political effort, the alliance insists the companies directly invest the money to support drivers who face severe financial hardships and health risks during the pandemic.
While the rideshare companies offer some help to drivers who contract the virus, the Mobile Workers Alliance argues that these measures fall far short of what is necessary. The group maintains that redirecting the political spending into a dedicated relief fund provides a more responsible and immediate way to protect the essential workers who keep their platforms running.