On May 17, Uber driver Sean Saulsbury conveyed to Flexible Work News his support for California’s Proposition 22. He expressed his belief that it would be “immoral” to strike down the measure as such a change would “force” independent contractors to work as employees.
“I wouldn’t drive if I had to be an employee,” said Saulsbury. “The value of driving Uber is its flexibility. I can turn it on and off whenever I need. It would be an immoral violation of rights to strike down Prop 22 and force drivers to become employees.”
Proposition 22, also known as the “App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative,” was approved by California voters in November 2020, according to Investopedia. This measure categorizes app-based transportation and delivery drivers as independent contractors.
In August 2021, a California court declared Proposition 22 unconstitutional. However, in March 2023, an appellate court overturned this ruling, thereby preserving Proposition 22 as part of California state law, according to the International Organization of Employers (IOE). The Service Employees International Union contested this decision and the state’s Supreme Court agreed to review it. A ruling on Proposition 22 from the Supreme Court is anticipated within this year.
According to a post on Uber’s website, Proposition 22 “provides historic and important protections and guarantees to workers in California.” Under this proposition, benefits for Uber drivers and couriers include health care stipends for those without access to health insurance plans, a minimum earnings guarantee of at least 120% of minimum wage plus 35 cents per mile, and occupational accident insurance.
Axios reported that approximately 5% of California’s total workforce is engaged in app-based work for companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Doordash. In 2022 alone, the state’s gig workers contributed $38 billion to California’s economy.
According to Backlinko, there are around 3.5 million individuals driving for Uber globally. The leading rideshare platform operates in over 10,000 cities and serves approximately 93 million customers.
