Posted on 02/26/2020 6:18:14 AM PST by DoodleBob
A San Diego judge said that the grocery delivery app Instacart has misclassified tens of thousands of its California gig workers who pack and deliver groceries as independent contractors.
While the preliminary injunction does not go into effect immediately and is currently limited to San Diego, the decision is a historic first step in enforcing the new California law AB5.
The controversial statute, which went into effect on January 1, was written to reclassify hundreds of thousands of gig workers in California as employees, making them eligible for basic labor rights and protections that tech platforms have conveniently circumvented for years, saving millions of dollars.
The case began when San Diegos city attorney sued Maplebear, Instacarts official corporate name, in September.
San Diego makes a very plausible showing of improper classification, the court said in its ruling, adding that Instacart cant legitimately claim surprise that it might have to change its business model.
Internal emails obtained by Motherboard that Instacart sent to corporate employees during the case said a loss in San Diego "may affect our operations in California." An email sent to corporate employees by Instacart's general counsel Morgan Fong after the decision Monday night said that the company will immediately dispute the ruling.
...
As independent contractors, Instacart workers are excluded from basic labor rights granted to most workers in the United States. They do not receive overtime pay, workers compensation, social security benefits, and are not eligible to form unions or subject to minimum wage laws. To make matters worse, they do not receive compensation for the cost of gas, wear and tear on their cars, or other expenses incurred on the job.
(Excerpt) Read more at vice.com ...
Then, I did some digging, and I found out why she's so pro-AB5. Ms Gurley; she lives in Brooklyn and thus (for now) she continues to enjoy getting work as a contract employee.
AB5 is a stealth push for Union dues from everyone I suspect.
Gotta get ‘em unionized so the Democrats can start skimming their paychecks for union dues/political contributions.
We live in Texas. My wife had to drop a California client for her business in Texas because this idiotic new California law would classify her as an employee.
It’s asinine.
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