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Democrats introduce legislation to kill the gig economy, destroy millions of jobs
American Thinker ^ | 02/16/2021 | Thomas Lifson

Posted on 02/16/2021 7:27:17 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Democrats and their labor union big-money donors hate the gig economy, where people work as independent contractors, doing as much or as little work as they wish, setting their own hours, providing their own workspace and equipment, and getting paid in full directly with no fringe benefits.  There are roughly 10.6 million independent contractors in the U.S. today, and labor unions want them changed into prospects for unionization by forcing them and their employers to revert to full-time employee status, with less flexibility, much higher overhead, and non-cash compensation costs.

California, a one-party state dominated by Democrats, tried to force such change on its own workforce by passing a similar bill, A.B. 5, with disastrous results in term of public revulsion:

California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), popularly known as the "gig worker bill," is a piece of legislation that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, and required companies that hire independent contractors to reclassify them as employees, with some exceptions. AB5 was designed to regulate companies that hire gig workers in large numbers, such as UberLyft, and DoorDash.

Following controversy over the bill, the Calif. legislature passed Assembly Bill 2257 in Sept. 2020, which exempts a long list of job categories from AB5. On Nov. 3, 2020 California voters approved Proposition 22, an initiative backed by Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash that legally designates drivers for app-based ride-hailing and delivery apps as independent contractors.


(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: california; democrats; economy; gig

1 posted on 02/16/2021 7:27:17 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

bookmark


2 posted on 02/16/2021 7:28:29 AM PST by GOP Poet (Super cool you can change your tag line EVERYTIME you post!! :D. (Small things make me happy))
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To: SeekAndFind
The final results showed a margin of over 17% in favor of protecting independent contractors — this in a state that is as deep blue as any in the country.

But congressional Democrats don't seem to care what even their own voters want, when it comes to doing the bidding of their biggest donors and destroying jobs that allow people a lot of leeway in how, when, and where they work.

Today, top @HouseDemocrats & @SenateDems introduced the #PROAct, a bold proposal that protects and strengthens the basic right of American workers to stand together and negotiate for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions.https://t.co/z55zjlUZ9Q— Committee on Education & Labor (@EdLaborCmte) February 4, 2021

The legislation at the core of their agenda is the PRO Act, which Democrats just re-introduced with sponsors including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer. Among many other things, the bill would severely restrict the legal definition of independent contractors in a way that would largely end the gig economy as we know it.  (snip)

"The men and women of labor are the backbone of our economy and the foundation of our strength," Pelosi said. "With American workers seeing their lives and livelihoods devastated by the ongoing pandemic and economic crisis, the reintroduction of the PRO Act is more important than ever.


3 posted on 02/16/2021 7:28:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Dependence on the Government and Fake News is the goal.


4 posted on 02/16/2021 7:33:25 AM PST by FreedBird (T)
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To: SeekAndFind

Fraudulent elections have consequences


5 posted on 02/16/2021 7:35:05 AM PST by PGR88
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To: SeekAndFind

With so many people scrambling for employment, working from home, freelance workers, part timers and independent contractors are more numerous than ever.

When the “wokie generation” hear about and finally understand this proposal there will be serious pushback.


6 posted on 02/16/2021 7:37:34 AM PST by READINABLUESTATE (CENSORSHIP = VIOLENCE)
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To: READINABLUESTATE

It won’t matter. The Left only listens to the Twitter verse when it serves their purpose. If Twitter erupts against this it will be ignored. They now know they can steal any election and get away with it. Nothing will stop their agenda because they no longer have to worry about defending their positions and answering to the voters. This is how dictatorships start.


7 posted on 02/16/2021 7:44:06 AM PST by redangus
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To: SeekAndFind
People at all levels of life from Government down to the homeless are simply unable to process thought correctly. The Bible accurately says:

Proverbs 5:23 He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.
Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding.
Isaiah 5:13 Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; And their honorable men are famished, And their multitude is parched with thirst.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

The above is WHY all of the bad things are happening to this country. Trying to get folks to understand that is virtually impossible.

8 posted on 02/16/2021 7:44:49 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: FreedBird

Will end the entertainment and music industries.


9 posted on 02/16/2021 7:45:03 AM PST by cnsmom
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To: SeekAndFind

The pervert Xiden administration...MAMA....Make America Miserable Again


10 posted on 02/16/2021 7:52:08 AM PST by goodnesswins (The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution." -- Saul Alinksy)
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To: SeekAndFind

How can the government force me to become an employee when I file fictitious business statements, invoice the client and deposit payments into a separate business bank account, have a separate office phone, advertise, and do work for several different customers? Other than being a sole proprietorship instead of a corporation I’m no different than a big company.


11 posted on 02/16/2021 7:55:48 AM PST by SoCal Pubbie
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To: SeekAndFind

This is such folly. The labor unions are delusional if they think that by preventing gig workers from earning a living they way they want, all of a sudden they’ll want to unionize and be the serfs of union fat cats.

Private labor unions have been dwindling in numbers for decades. This disaster of a law wouldn’t stem that tide. Even when California voters don’t want a law by almost 20%, you know it’s really a PoS idea.


12 posted on 02/16/2021 7:57:18 AM PST by NohSpinZone (First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers)
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To: SeekAndFind

“destroy millions of jobs”

Just another day at the office, for a Leftist ideologue.

Still warming up. Unrestrained, they typically end up destroying millions of humans.


13 posted on 02/16/2021 7:58:17 AM PST by BeauBo
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To: SeekAndFind

I am against the new law. However, there are far too many companies that treat people like employees, requiring meetings, setting work schedules & not providing the benefits of employers in order to thrust the cost of employment, IE: Employment taxes, on to the employee.

They are paying 1099 illegally in other words.


14 posted on 02/16/2021 8:22:27 AM PST by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign! )
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