Eighty percent (80%) of app-based drivers work part-time, fewer than 20 hours per week, and rely on flexible work to supplement income and provide for their families. They are parents who work while their kids are in school, family members who need the flexibility to care for aging parents or loved ones, students who earn income around class schedules, working families, or retirees.
Access to these flexible earnings opportunities and the convenience and affordability of these on-demand services is at risk.
Last year Sacramento politicians passed drastic legislation that makes it illegal for Californians to work as independent contractors with app-based rideshare, food and grocery delivery platforms - instead forcing drivers to be classified as employees.
In multiple surveys, more than 70% of drivers say they want to remain independent contractors. They do NOT want to be employees.
With unemployment at record highs, prohibiting independent contract work for app-based drivers would eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs at the worst possible time.
It would also mean longer wait times for customers, significantly higher prices, and could even lead to a permanent shutdown of services in many areas – restricting access to these services for millions.
The Solution –
The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce along with a coalition of small businesses, public safety groups, advocates for those in underserved communities and many more, plus nearly 100,000 Californians who drive with app-based platforms, are fighting back by supporting Proposition 22 – a November ballot measure that protects driver flexibility and provides historic new wage and benefit guarantees, like health care.
Prop 22:
- Protects the ability of app-based drivers to choose to work as independent contractors with control over where, when, how long and for whom they work.
- Improves the quality of app-based work by requiring app-based platforms to provide drivers:
- Guaranteed minimum earnings
- 30 cents per mile compensation toward expenses
- Funding for new health benefits for drivers who work at least 15 hours a week
- Insurance for injuries and illnesses on the job
- Protection against discrimination and sexual harassment
- Implements strong new public safety protections:
- Recurring background checks of drivers
- Mandatory new safety courses for drivers
- Zero tolerance for alcohol and drug offenses
- Making it a crime to impersonate a driver
- Keeps app-based services available and affordable:
- Preserves app-based delivery services that millions of Californians now rely on to bring groceries, medications and warm meals to their homes while helping small restaurants and retailers to connect with customers.
- Preserves rideshare services that prevent drunk driving and improve mobility for seniors, the disabled and families without a vehicle.