Legislation Would Expand Worker Protections to Those Misclassified as “Independent Contractors” by CA Companies Like Uber and Lyft
CALIFORNIA — Last night, the California State Senate passed AB 5, legislation that will give California workers who are misclassified as independent contractors the rights they are due, like minimum wage, unemployment benefits, workers compensation, and more.
Eddie Kurtz, Executive Director of the Leading California-based Progressive Organization, Courage Campaign, issued the following in response:
“Corporations like Uber and Lyft have been exploiting their workers by classifying them as independent contractors, cheating them from basic benefits and protections that they — and all California workers — deserve.
“Everyone has the right to a livable wage and basic protections like Social Security and Medicare. For too long, companies have attempted to game the system, exploiting classification loopholes at the expense of their workers. Today, California made it clear that it will not be bullied by corporate scare tactics, and will not sit by and allow workers to continue to be taken advantage of.
“Courage Campaign applauds the state Legislature for doing the right thing by helping to ensure all workers are protected, and for passing legislation that should serve as a model for other States to do the same.”
“Courage Campaign applauds the state Legislature for doing the right thing by helping to ensure all workers are protected, and for passing legislation that should serve as a model for other States to do the same.”
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