Companies Seek to Block California Law Covering Independent Workers
2020-01-01
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1Two companies that employ independent workers are taking legal action to block a California law that offers protections to such workers.
2The ride-sharing company Uber joined delivery service Postmates in the lawsuit.
3The two companies argue that the new law violates federal and state constitutional guarantees of equal protection and fair justice.
4The law is set to take effect in California on Wednesday.
5Supporters have argued that the new rules protect the rights of workers who are independent contractors.
6The law requires companies to provide some independent contractors with the same kinds of work protections and benefits that employees receive.
7In addition to Uber and Postmates, the lawsuit includes two independent workers fighting the law.
8California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law in September.
9It has brought greater attention to the rights of independent workers.
10The California law is seen as a possible model for future legislation in other states.
11Companies like Uber, Lyft, Postmates and others depend on the state's estimated 450,000 contract workers to work as drivers to keep their businesses running.
12The workers are considered independent contractors; they choose which hours and days they want to work.
13The lawsuit argues that the new law covers some industries - like ride-sharing and delivery - but not others that operate similarly.
14It also states that the rules violate workers' rights to choose how they earn a living.
15The lawsuit also argues that the new law harms companies providing independent services "by denying their constitutional rights to be treated the same as others to whom they are similarly situated."
16The lawsuit described a study that suggested the law would increase Lyft's operating costs by 20 percent and cut the number of drivers in California by about 300,000.
17Democratic state lawmaker Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego helped write the bill.
18She said the law is meant to extend employee rights to more than a million independent workers who lack benefits.
19Those benefits include a minimum wage, paid time off and medical coverage.
20Gonzalez noted that Uber had sought to receive exemptions to the law when legislators were working on the bill.
21Uber joined Lyft and DoorDash in promising to spend $30 million each in an effort to have the law overturned by voters during the 2020 election.
22Gonzalez said in a statement: "The one clear thing we know about Uber is they will do anything to try to exempt themselves from state regulations that make us all safer and their driver employees self-sufficient."
23She added: "In the meantime, Uber chief executives will continue to become billionaires while too many of their drivers are forced to sleep in their cars."
24I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Two companies that employ independent workers are taking legal action to block a California law that offers protections to such workers. 2The ride-sharing company Uber joined delivery service Postmates in the lawsuit. The two companies argue that the new law violates federal and state constitutional guarantees of equal protection and fair justice. 3The law is set to take effect in California on Wednesday. 4Supporters have argued that the new rules protect the rights of workers who are independent contractors. 5The law requires companies to provide some independent contractors with the same kinds of work protections and benefits that employees receive. In addition to Uber and Postmates, the lawsuit includes two independent workers fighting the law. 6California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law in September. It has brought greater attention to the rights of independent workers. The California law is seen as a possible model for future legislation in other states. 7Companies like Uber, Lyft, Postmates and others depend on the state's estimated 450,000 contract workers to work as drivers to keep their businesses running. The workers are considered independent contractors; they choose which hours and days they want to work. 8The lawsuit argues that the new law covers some industries - like ride-sharing and delivery - but not others that operate similarly. It also states that the rules violate workers' rights to choose how they earn a living. 9The lawsuit also argues that the new law harms companies providing independent services "by denying their constitutional rights to be treated the same as others to whom they are similarly situated." 10The lawsuit described a study that suggested the law would increase Lyft's operating costs by 20 percent and cut the number of drivers in California by about 300,000. 11Democratic state lawmaker Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego helped write the bill. She said the law is meant to extend employee rights to more than a million independent workers who lack benefits. Those benefits include a minimum wage, paid time off and medical coverage. 12Gonzalez noted that Uber had sought to receive exemptions to the law when legislators were working on the bill. Uber joined Lyft and DoorDash in promising to spend $30 million each in an effort to have the law overturned by voters during the 2020 election. 13Gonzalez said in a statement: "The one clear thing we know about Uber is they will do anything to try to exempt themselves from state regulations that make us all safer and their driver employees self-sufficient." 14She added: "In the meantime, Uber chief executives will continue to become billionaires while too many of their drivers are forced to sleep in their cars." 15I'm Jonathan Evans. 16Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press and Reuters. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 17We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 18________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20delivery - n. the taking of goods from one place to another 21lawsuit - n. a legal action brought before a court 22contractor - n. a person or company that supplies goods or does work for other people 23benefit - n. assistance provided by employers to workers 24minimum - adj. the least or smallest amount 25exemption - n. the process of freeing from a responsibility to do something 26regulation - n. an official rule that controls how something is done 27self-sufficient - adj. able to do things independently and not needing help from others 28executive - n. person with a high position in a company or the government