On Thursday, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Proposition 22, upholding the 2020 ballot proposition that allowed gig work drivers to remain as independent contractors and extended benefits to gig workers, including minimum pay standards, health stipends, and accident insurance. When it passed in 2020, nearly 10 million Californians (58.6% of voters) cast their ballot in favor of the measure, with especially strong support among majority-minority communities and women.

“This is a huge win for the California voters and drivers who passed Prop 22 by a historic margin,” said Chamber of Progress CEO Adam Kovacevich. “Rideshare drivers want to be their own boss and set their own schedule. That’s a top benefit of the job and this decision protects that independence. With New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and California all now agreeing on independent work for drivers, this really settles the question of gig worker classification.”

Had Prop 22 been overturned, employment law in California would have reverted back to AB 5, a law requiring broad reclassification of independent contractors as employees. An analysis published by Chamber of Progress found that AB 5-style regulations result in widespread job loss – with lost work opportunities for 3.4 million American workers if similar rules were implemented at the national level.

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Chamber of Progress (progresschamber.org) is a center-left tech industry policy coalition promoting technology’s progressive future.  We work to ensure that all Americans benefit from technological leaps, and that the tech industry operates responsibly and fairly.  

Our corporate partners do not have a vote on or veto over our positions. We do not speak for individual partner companies and remain true to our stated principles even when our partners disagree.