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Uber and Lyft lose appeal, ordered again to classify drivers as employees

Uber and Lyft lose appeal, ordered again to classify drivers as employees

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But the ruling won’t go in effect until after the election, when voters are expected to weigh in on Prop 22

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Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

Uber and Lyft were ordered by California’s court of appeals late Thursday to classify their drivers as employees. In a 74-page opinion, the court affirmed the injunction that was issued on August 10th requiring Uber and Lyft to classify their drivers as employees within 30 days. 

But it’s unlikely this ruling will go into effect before California voters have a chance to weigh in on a ballot measure, Prop 22, that would exempt Uber, Lyft, and other gig economy companies from the state law making it more difficult to classify workers as independent contractors.

The injunction won’t go into effect until 30 days after the appeals ruling

The injunction doesn’t go into effect until 30 days after the appeals ruling. Still, it’s a sign of how much is riding on Prop 22, which Uber and Lyft have collectively spent $186 million to get passed.

Public officials and driver groups celebrated the court ruling. “This is a huge victory for drivers,” the anti-Prop 22 group Gig Workers Rising said in a statement. The city attorney of San Francisco simply tweeted, “Drivers are employees.”

Uber and Lyft have both claimed that they would leave California if forced to classify drivers as employees. Uber’s CEO also predicted a sharp increase in fare prices and fewer drivers allowed on the app if Prop 22 fails.

In separate statements, Uber and Lyft said they are exploring their appeal options, which may include taking the case to the California Supreme Court. “Today’s ruling means that if the voters don’t say Yes on Proposition 22, rideshare drivers will be prevented from continuing to work as independent contractors, putting hundreds of thousands of Californians out of work and likely shutting down ridesharing throughout much of the state,” an Uber spokesperson added.

A Lyft spokesperson said, “This ruling makes it more urgent than ever for voters to stand with drivers and vote yes on Prop. 22.”

“This ruling makes it more urgent than ever for voters to stand with drivers and vote yes on Prop. 22”

The battle over Prop 22 has been heating up in recent weeks, as polling shows the electorate sharply divided over whether Uber and Lyft should treat drivers like employees. The airwaves have been blanketed with pro- and anti-Prop 22 advertisements (mostly pro, given Uber and Lyft’s spending advantage over their opponents). A group of Uber drivers sued the company today claiming the “constant barrage” of messages in its app violates workers’ rights. The drivers are seeking up to $260 million in penalties.

The August 10th ruling was in response to a preliminary injunction filed by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as part of a lawsuit alleging the companies are in violation of the state’s AB5 law that went into effect on January 1st. The law enshrines the so-called “ABC test” to determine if someone is a contractor or an employee, and generally makes it more difficult for companies like Uber and Lyft to classify workers as independent contractors.

Uber and Lyft say most drivers prefer to be independent because of the flexibility and ability to set their own hours. But labor unions and elected officials contend this deprives them of traditional benefits like health insurance and workers’ compensation, as well as forces drivers to shoulder all the costs of their work.

Uber and Lyft, along with DoorDash, are funding a ballot measure, Proposition 22, that would allow them to sidestep AB5 and continue classifying their workers as independent contractors. A recent poll funded by Uber found that the majority of drivers — as well as voters — support the plan.