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Uber sued over resistance to California 'gig' contractor law

Posted On: Sep. 12, 2019 12:06 PM CST

Uber

(Reuters) — A driver for Uber Technologies Inc. has sued the company for misclassifying its drivers as independent contractors, hours after California legislators voted to help thousands of those workers become, and enjoy the benefits of being, employees.

The proposed class action filed on Wednesday might by Uber driver Angela McRay appears to be the first since California's Senate passed landmark legislation that could affect workers in many industries, in addition to ride-sharing companies such as Uber.

Gov. Gavin Newsom supports the proposed law, which is known as Assembly Bill 5 and would take effect on Jan. 1, though it may undergo changes before it reaches his desk.

Ms. McRay, a Pittsburg, California, resident who said she has driven for Uber since November 2016, faulted the company for having "publicly stated that it intends to defy this statute," by continuing to treat drivers as independent contractors.

"This ongoing defiance of the law constitutes a willful violation of California law," the complaint said. Ms. McRay is seeking damages for Uber drivers in California, and an injunction requiring compliance.

Uber did not immediately respond on Thursday to requests for comment.

Chief Legal Officer Tony West said on Wednesday that the law did not automatically reclassify drivers, but Uber could "pass the harder test to the satisfaction of arbitrators and courts."

The law has attracted national attention because of the size of California's workforce, which includes several hundred thousand contract workers.

Labor groups and other supporters of the law have said it would help long-suffering contractors by entitling them to coverage under minimum wage and overtime laws, and afford greater access to health insurance and expense reimbursements.

The law has also been criticized by trade groups and "gig economy" companies dependent on contract workers because of the extra financial burdens.

A.B. 5 would codify a 2018 California Supreme Court decision that narrowed when employers could classify workers as independent contractors.

Uber, rival Lyft Inc. and DoorDash have pushed for separate legislation to boost driver pay and benefits while preserving their independent contractor status.

In March, Uber agreed to pay $20 million to settle a nearly six-year-old lawsuit by California and Massachusetts drivers over their classifications.

The case is McRay v. Uber Technologies Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.