Prop 22 would create a special exemption from California employment laws just for these companies, while also pre-empting local regulation. Like the tobacco companies, gig companies have spent millions of dollars to directly and indirectly challenge independent research that is critical of the companies. In March, during the second week of California’s pandemic lockdown, my home address was posted online by a Prop 22 supporter. In California, alone, Uber and Lyft have already avoided an estimated $413m in state unemployment insurance taxes between 2014 and 2019. Similar to the piece published recently in the New York Times by Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, the tobacco companies promised and proposed a variety of good faith changes.

Source: The Guardian September 11, 2020 12:54 UTC