Huge win for Uber & Lyft after Prop 22 is approved - meaning drivers will be independent contractors

Image credit: Piqsels

A broad coalition of voters have sided with ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft, meaning drivers will be considered as independent contractors in California.

Millions of voters joined their voices with the hundreds of thousands of drivers who want independence plus benefits.

With nearly 10 million votes counted, Prop 22 is passing with 57% of the vote. With the passage of Prop 22, app-based rideshare and delivery drivers across the state will be considered as independent, plus have access to new benefits, like a minimum earnings guarantee and health care.

Prop 22 was passed with strong support from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.

The Silicon Valley tech giants poured more than $200m (£155m) into the efforts, making it the most expensive ballot measure campaign in state history.

The vote centred on California assembly bill 5, passed in 2019, which extended labour protection laws to workers in the gig economy.

The companies argued that their drivers should instead be classified as contractors and warned the changes threatened their business models.

Some campaign groups argued that Prop 22 would strip drivers of proper labour protections and transparency over pay.

However, there was support from some individual drivers. “This is a win for drivers across California. We’re grateful voters—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents—came together to stand with the nearly one million drivers who overwhelmingly supported Prop 22 because it protects our ability to work as independent contractors,” said Alfred Porche, an Army veteran who drives rideshare and delivery in Southern California.

“This campaign was about listening to drivers and making our voice count. More than 120,000 drivers actively supported this campaign by talking with friends, family, customers, and voters across the state to make sure they understood that the vast majority of drivers want to stay independent contractors.”