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California Rideshare Driver Statement on State Appellate Court Decision on Prop 22 Lawsuit [1]

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Date: 2023-03-13

Following the Court of Appeal’s decision considering the constitutionality of Proposition 22, plaintiff and Uber and Lyft driver Mike Robinson released the following statement:

“We are grateful that the California Court of Appeal has affirmed that companies like Uber, Lyft, Doordash and Instacart can’t keep drivers from joining together in a union through their deceptive ballot measure. Our right to join together and bargain collectively creates a clear path for drivers and delivery workers to hold giant gig corporations accountable, put an end to unfair deactivations that jeopardize our livelihoods, and win better wages and benefits.”

“But no make no mistake, we still believe Prop 22 — in its entirety — is an unconstitutional attack on our basic rights, and the right of the legislature to pass laws affecting workers’ compensation and drivers’ ability to make ends meet amid the skyrocketing cost of gas, food and housing. More than two years since it was enacted, Prop 22 hasn’t left us any better off than we were before — it’s only allowed gig companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash to deprive us of a living wage, overtime, paid sick leave and meaningful health care coverage.

Theresa Rutherford, Executive Board Member of SEIU California and President of SEIU 1021:

“The right to join together in a union is the most powerful way for workers to challenge gig corporations’ exploitative business model that profits off of paying low wages and silencing its workers. Today’s ruling opens the door to the possibility for gig drivers and delivery workers to transform their industry through a strong voice on the job. However, the fact that these workers are still being denied the basic protections most workers have in California is a travesty.

David Green, Executive Board Member of SEIU California and SEIU 721 President:

“Gig companies should know by now that drivers aren’t going to give up until they have the rights afforded to all other workers in the state, from basic protections on the job like workers compensation and unemployment insurance, paid sick leave to having a seat at the table to bargain for better wages and benefits. Corporations prioritizing their bottom lines over our democracy should not dictate the laws in our state. SEIU will continue to stand alongside drivers in the fight to prevent democracy from being sold to the highest spender.”

David Huerta, President of SEIU California and SEIU United Service Workers West added:

“When gig companies can spend over $200 million to pass a law that violates our state’s constitution instead of investing in workers, it’s clear that California needs better safeguards for our democracy. And now, the fast-food industry and oil industry are copying the gig industry’s playbook — attempting to boost their profits by hijacking the ballot referendum process and overturning laws that give workers a voice on the job and protect the health of our communities. Every California voter should be concerned about corporations’ growing influence in our democracy and their ability to spend millions of dollars to deceive voters and buy themselves laws.”

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[1] Url: https://seiuca.org/press-releases/2023/03/13/california-rideshare-driver-statement-on-state-appellate-court-decision-on-prop-22-lawsuit/

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