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from the the-plight-of-the-gig-economy-worker dept.
California Judge Rules Uber and Lyft to Immediately Classify Drivers as Employees:
A California court issued a preliminary injuction on Monday, ordering Uber and Lyft to immediately reclassify Uber and Lyft ride-share drivers as employees, in a highly anticipated decision that follows a months-long battle between the state of California and the gig economy companies.
The San Francisco Superior Court judge said the companies must begin complying within 10 days.
In May, California's attorney general Xavier Becerra, alongside the cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, sued Uber and Lyft, arguing that the companies have been violating law by misclassifying Uber and Lyft drivers as independent contractors since January 1 when a state law known as AB5 went into effect.
In June, Becerra filed a request for a preliminary injunction, arguing that drivers are currently enduring such significant damages that waiting until the end of litigation would cause irreparable harm.
Responding to news of the preliminary injunction, attorney general Becerra said, "The court has weighed in and agreed: Uber and Lyft need to put a stop to unlawful misclassification of their drivers while our litigation continues. While this fight still has a long way to go, we're pushing ahead to make sure the people of California get the workplace protections they deserve."
(Score: 2, Troll) by ChrisMaple on Wednesday August 12 2020, @12:30AM (3 children)
This court decision is a money grab by the state of California. If the drivers are employees, Uber has to report all payments as earned income for each driver. This makes stealing the money immensely easier for the state: one source for all data instead of tens or hundreds of thousands of drivers trying to hide their financial activities.
(Score: 2) by ledow on Wednesday August 12 2020, @10:40AM
Sorry, but I have a problem with people who don't want to pay their taxes.
Therefore I have a problem with people who want to HIDE their earnings from the government.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 12 2020, @03:26PM (1 child)
It's not stealing, it's taxes. If you don't want to pay taxes, why don't you move someplace where they don't have taxes? I'm sure that 3rd world shithole is going to be a significant improvement jerkweed.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday August 13 2020, @03:15AM
A lot of people and businesses answered that question by moving. California still has a large economy for now, but how long will that continue with the suicide by a 1000 cuts? AB5 is only part of a much larger problem.