Ride-hailing drivers and the Service Employees International Union filed a lawsuit against California on Tuesday that asks the state Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 22 on grounds that it is unconstitutional.
Proposition 22 sought to avoid classifying gig workers as employees, as required by California law. The measure was passed by 58% of the state’s voters in the November election after companies like Uber Technologies Inc.
UBER,
Lyft Inc.
LYFT,
and DoorDash Inc.
DASH,
spent more than $200 million on it.
See: Uber and Lyft win fight to keep drivers as contractors in California
The lawsuit challenges key provisions of the measure: gig workers’ inability to be included in the workers’ comp system and to collectively bargain, and its restriction on the state legislature to make meaningful changes because of the seven-eighths vote it requires for any amendment to it. Also, the lawsuit says Prop. 22 is too broad; ballot measures are supposed to focus on one issue.
Scott Kronland, attorney for the plaintiffs, said during a news conference Tuesday that Prop. 22 “overreached.” He said the California constitution “gives to the Legislature the power to decide which workers are given access to workers’ comp and OSHA,” something the measure takes away.
The measure, which took effect in mid-December, “illegally limits the power of lawmakers and courts to protect gig workers,” Bob Schoonover, president of the SEIU state council and SEIU Local 721, said.
The plaintiffs, which include the SEIU California and the broader SEIU, plus individual drivers and a ride-hailing customer, are seeking expedited consideration from the court and expect to hear back from the court within a couple of weeks, Kronland said.
Ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft, plus app-delivery platforms DoorDash and Instacart, rely on millions of workers they consider independent contractors. Classifying drivers and delivery workers would upend their business models, they have said as they have fought many lawsuits. Under Prop. 22, they promise to provide workers with guaranteed earnings that are supposed to be equal to 120% of minimum wage; give eligible workers health care subsidies depending on how many hours they work a week; and provide occupational accident and death insurance.
Opponents of the measure say those provisions fall short of full employee protections: The guaranteed earnings do not apply to time drivers and delivery workers spend waiting for a gig; only those with existing health insurance qualify for the health care subsidies; and the levels of accident and disability insurance promised are limited.
Hector Castellanos, a full-time Uber and Lyft driver from Antioch, Calif., and one of the plaintiffs, said drivers “need a safety net and protections. COVID-19 made that clear.” He also recounted at the news conference that he was hit by another driver years ago and took eight months to recuperate, during which he had no access to workers’ comp.
Uber and Lyft have not returned requests for comment Tuesday.
DoorDash and Instacart referred to a statement sent by Protect App Based Jobs & Services, a coalition formerly known as Yes on 22, which noted that “nearly 10 million California voters” passed the measure and called the lawsuit “meritless.”
“Voters across the political spectrum spoke loud and clear,” the coalition said, attributing the statement to Jim Pyatt, a Modesto, Calif.-based Uber driver.
