Uber, Lyft granted reprieve just hours before shutdown in California

Posted:
in General Discussion edited August 2020
Uber and Lyft have been granted an emergency stay on an order that would force them to reclassify their drivers, just hours before both companies said they would shut down operations in California because of it.

Uber and Lyft aren't shutting down in California yet
Uber and Lyft aren't shutting down in California yet


Lyft on Thursday said it could cease all operations through California on Aug. 20, in response to a state proposal to reclassify its drivers as employees instead of independent contractors. At the time, Uber was said to be close behind.

Just hours before the ride-sharing companies were set to shut down in California, a State appeals court granted an emergency reprieve that would allow them to temporarily continue operations, CNBC reported.

The order gives both ride-sharing companies until 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Aug. 25 to file written statements agreeing to certain outlined expedited procedures. It isn't clear whether Uber or Lyft will change their plans to shut down in California, but the emergency stay could prompt them to continue operating.

Both companies aren't off the hook yet. They'll have 30 days to show that they'll comply with the state law requiring them to reclassify drivers if their appeal fails, or a bill that would block the changes -- Prop 22 -- doesn't pass.

Oral arguments for the appeal are set for Oct. 13.

The injunction was originally requested by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra in connected to a May lawsuit, and on Aug. 10, a California court ruling placed the injunction on the two companies. The injunction gave both companies 10 days to comply with the order to give them a chance to appeal -- and both Uber and Lyft said that they did.

That May lawsuit alleged that Uber and Lyft were in violation of California labor law AB5, which seeks to grant benefits to gig economy workers and independent contractors. Uber and Lyft opposed AB5 before it passed, but afterward it did, they claimed that they were not subject to it because they were technology platform providers and not employers.


Comments

  • Reply 1 of 17
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    These authoritarians in California government will put thousands of people out of work. And there are no opposing party members around to shift the blame. They own all of this mess.
    JWSC
  • Reply 2 of 17
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,444member
    These authoritarians in California government will put thousands of people out of work. And there are no opposing party members around to shift the blame. They own all of this mess.

    Yep. Wait until the drunk drivers start hitting the road again. MADD should be backing Prop 22 big time.
    JWSC
  • Reply 3 of 17
    darkvaderdarkvader Posts: 1,146member
    If they'd rather shut down than pay their employees fairly, they deserve to fail.

    It's ridiculous that they're being given more time.  They've been breaking the law for over a year now.  Hit them for the full labor code violation, make them pay all the back pay they owe and the thousands of dollars in fines per employee.

    The sooner these worthless companies go bankrupt the sooner a new company that will pay drivers fairly for their work will emerge.
    ronnmariowincodoozydozen
  • Reply 4 of 17
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,143member
    darkvader said:
    If they'd rather shut down than pay their employees fairly, they deserve to fail.

    It's ridiculous that they're being given more time.  They've been breaking the law for over a year now.  Hit them for the full labor code violation, make them pay all the back pay they owe and the thousands of dollars in fines per employee.

    The sooner these worthless companies go bankrupt the sooner a new company that will pay drivers fairly for their work will emerge.
    You are ignorant as hell.  These are not "employees", they never were "employees", and should never be "employees".

    These were a whiny, vocal minority that wanted all the benefits of being an independent contractor, make their own hours, choose to work/not work.. but hey... "we want to work only the bare minimum and when we want, but get all the benefits of full-time employees."

    These jerks are ruining it for us (including me) bonafide independent contractors.  Screw them.  If they want real benefits of actual employees, get a real job.

    I'm happy Lyft and Uber were ready to take a stand.  California blinked and soon realized that many people (i.e. "voters") would lose a source of income because of their stupidity.
    edited August 2020 80s_Apple_Guymuthuk_vanalingamJWSC
  • Reply 5 of 17
    bsnjonbsnjon Posts: 39member
    The so-called “gig economy” is a system that transfers wealth from the poor to the rich. California’s law might not be perfect but if the state loses this case everyone who has to work for living will be eventually harmed. 
    ronntmaydoozydozen
  • Reply 6 of 17
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,143member
    bsnjon said:
    The so-called “gig economy” is a system that transfers wealth from the poor to the rich. California’s law might not be perfect but if the state loses this case everyone who has to work for living will be eventually harmed. 
    Nonsense.  No one is forcing you to sign up on an app and drive your car and get paid for it.  If you don't like the terms, find something else to do.

    80s_Apple_Guymuthuk_vanalingamJWSC
  • Reply 7 of 17
    ronnronn Posts: 690member
    sflocal said:
    darkvader said:
    If they'd rather shut down than pay their employees fairly, they deserve to fail.

    It's ridiculous that they're being given more time.  They've been breaking the law for over a year now.  Hit them for the full labor code violation, make them pay all the back pay they owe and the thousands of dollars in fines per employee.

    The sooner these worthless companies go bankrupt the sooner a new company that will pay drivers fairly for their work will emerge.
    I'm happy Lyft and Uber were ready to take a stand.  California blinked and soon realized that many people (i.e. "voters") would lose a source of income because of their stupidity.
    California didn't blink. The court gave the ride-share hustlers a short reprieve. They have to abide by certain rules and respond by August 25th, and still have to fight the lawsuit by the California AG that will fight to have them follow the law (AB5) or shutdown completely.
    tmaydoozydozen
  • Reply 8 of 17
    sflocal said:

    Nonsense.  No one is forcing you to sign up on an app and drive your car and get paid for it.  If you don't like the terms, find something else to do.

    The standard of living for some Americans is already going down. Think of it like this: Music was distributed by physical media, now it is streamed. Executives and shareholders of Spotify and YouTube became mega rich because of that, but musicians became much poorer. 

    Private investors are putting a lot of money into businesses with no employees. If these taxi companies win, this model will march forward into every other industry. That would be an extraordinarily sad and dangerous development. 
    mariowinco
  • Reply 9 of 17
    darkvader said:
    If they'd rather shut down than pay their employees fairly, they deserve to fail.

    It's ridiculous that they're being given more time.  They've been breaking the law for over a year now.  Hit them for the full labor code violation, make them pay all the back pay they owe and the thousands of dollars in fines per employee.

    The sooner these worthless companies go bankrupt the sooner a new company that will pay drivers fairly for their work will emerge.
    Another person who doesn’t understand what’s really going on here.

    Unions authored this crap law so people would be forced out of voluntary contracts (which they all wanted, by the way) and into unions. Why? Because unions are pushing the buttons in Sacramento and when these overstuffed unions bark, their politicians jump as high as they are demanded. 

    No. One. But. Union. Crooks. Wanted. This.
    80s_Apple_GuyJWSC
  • Reply 10 of 17

    bsnjon said:
    sflocal said:

    Nonsense.  No one is forcing you to sign up on an app and drive your car and get paid for it.  If you don't like the terms, find something else to do.

    The standard of living for some Americans is already going down. Think of it like this: Music was distributed by physical media, now it is streamed. Executives and shareholders of Spotify and YouTube became mega rich because of that, but musicians became much poorer. 

    Private investors are putting a lot of money into businesses with no employees. If these taxi companies win, this model will march forward into every other industry. That would be an extraordinarily sad and dangerous development. 
    Think about it. Self-driving buses and cabs are about 2-3 years away from ubiquity. They’ll have been proven safe and human drivers will be unnecessary. Idiotic laws like this place a burden on freelancers who are making money today because they won’t have the option available in several years.

    And no one is going to be amenable to the idea of paying a bunch of deadbeats for doing nothing by then, especially after the multi-trillion dollar burdens start to hit reality from sending paychecks to those stuck at home due to the political reaction to COVID.
    edited August 2020 JWSC
  • Reply 11 of 17
    As stated above, this is just killing the little people for the unions. Uber and Lyft just allowed people who wanted to or needed to to be able to make a little more money. There is nothing about what they do that is employee like. They set their own hours, own the vehicles etc. All this will do is hurt the people who can least asked afford the loss in income. Great job California. 
    muthuk_vanalingamSpamSandwichJWSC
  • Reply 12 of 17
    As stated above, this is just killing the little people for the unions. Uber and Lyft just allowed people who wanted to or needed to to be able to make a little more money. There is nothing about what they do that is employee like. They set their own hours, own the vehicles etc. All this will do is hurt the people who can least asked afford the loss in income. Great job California. 
    California has never been great lately....Ruined 🤨
  • Reply 13 of 17
    larryjwlarryjw Posts: 1,036member
    These authoritarians in California government will put thousands of people out of work. And there are no opposing party members around to shift the blame. They own all of this mess.
    Uber and Lyft drivers do not have a job. They are paying out of their own pockets to drive and building mansions for Uber and Lyft owners. 

    Drivers lose money. Wear and tear on vehicle, gas, etc.

    Yes, schools must teach algebra and geometry, also accounting, and simple taxation and practical use of spreadsheets. If drivers had that kind of education, there would be no drivers for Uber or Lyft. 
  • Reply 14 of 17
    larryjwlarryjw Posts: 1,036member


    bsnjon said:
    sflocal said:

    Nonsense.  No one is forcing you to sign up on an app and drive your car and get paid for it.  If you don't like the terms, find something else to do.

    The standard of living for some Americans is already going down. Think of it like this: Music was distributed by physical media, now it is streamed. Executives and shareholders of Spotify and YouTube became mega rich because of that, but musicians became much poorer. 

    Private investors are putting a lot of money into businesses with no employees. If these taxi companies win, this model will march forward into every other industry. That would be an extraordinarily sad and dangerous development. 
    Think about it. Self-driving buses and cabs are about 2-3 years away from ubiquity. They’ll have been proven safe and human drivers will be unnecessary. Idiotic laws like this place a burden on freelancers who are making money today because they won’t have the option available in several years.

    And no one is going to be amenable to the idea of paying a bunch of deadbeats for doing nothing by then, especially after the multi-trillion dollar burdens start to hit reality from sending paychecks to those stuck at home due to the political reaction to COVID.
    Self driving is 15 years away at least.

    If cities banned all human-driven vehicles, and turned all streets into self-driving systems, then everything would change. No parking would be required (a vehicle spends at least 95% of its time parked), no drivers insurance, no drunk driving (only drunk passengers), no police enforcement, no accident investigations, if timed right, no traffic congestion. Most people would not have to own cars. And the cars could mostly be all-electric. No gas stations. Many streets themselves could be turned into pedestrian areas,

    Just, self-organizing mass transit. New jobs would be maintenance of these vehicles. 
    doozydozen
  • Reply 15 of 17
    JWSCJWSC Posts: 1,203member
    ronn said:
    sflocal said:
    darkvader said:
    If they'd rather shut down than pay their employees fairly, they deserve to fail.

    It's ridiculous that they're being given more time.  They've been breaking the law for over a year now.  Hit them for the full labor code violation, make them pay all the back pay they owe and the thousands of dollars in fines per employee.

    The sooner these worthless companies go bankrupt the sooner a new company that will pay drivers fairly for their work will emerge.
    I'm happy Lyft and Uber were ready to take a stand.  California blinked and soon realized that many people (i.e. "voters") would lose a source of income because of their stupidity.
    California didn't blink. The court gave the ride-share hustlers a short reprieve. They have to abide by certain rules and respond by August 25th, and still have to fight the lawsuit by the California AG that will fight to have them follow the law (AB5) or shutdown completely.
    Uber and Lyft will likely leave CA. That’s a harsh but necessary response to regulatory overreach. Voters will soon have their say on another idiocy coming out of the CA state legislature.
  • Reply 16 of 17
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,143member
    ronn said:
    sflocal said:
    darkvader said:
    If they'd rather shut down than pay their employees fairly, they deserve to fail.

    It's ridiculous that they're being given more time.  They've been breaking the law for over a year now.  Hit them for the full labor code violation, make them pay all the back pay they owe and the thousands of dollars in fines per employee.

    The sooner these worthless companies go bankrupt the sooner a new company that will pay drivers fairly for their work will emerge.
    I'm happy Lyft and Uber were ready to take a stand.  California blinked and soon realized that many people (i.e. "voters") would lose a source of income because of their stupidity.
    California didn't blink. The court gave the ride-share hustlers a short reprieve. They have to abide by certain rules and respond by August 25th, and still have to fight the lawsuit by the California AG that will fight to have them follow the law (AB5) or shutdown completely.
    Oh got it...   They blinked.

    folks like you have zero clue what’s going on and what’s driving this.  If anyone is being played, it’s you guys.




  • Reply 17 of 17
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    larryjw said:


    bsnjon said:
    sflocal said:

    Nonsense.  No one is forcing you to sign up on an app and drive your car and get paid for it.  If you don't like the terms, find something else to do.

    The standard of living for some Americans is already going down. Think of it like this: Music was distributed by physical media, now it is streamed. Executives and shareholders of Spotify and YouTube became mega rich because of that, but musicians became much poorer. 

    Private investors are putting a lot of money into businesses with no employees. If these taxi companies win, this model will march forward into every other industry. That would be an extraordinarily sad and dangerous development. 
    Think about it. Self-driving buses and cabs are about 2-3 years away from ubiquity. They’ll have been proven safe and human drivers will be unnecessary. Idiotic laws like this place a burden on freelancers who are making money today because they won’t have the option available in several years.

    And no one is going to be amenable to the idea of paying a bunch of deadbeats for doing nothing by then, especially after the multi-trillion dollar burdens start to hit reality from sending paychecks to those stuck at home due to the political reaction to COVID.
    Self driving is 15 years away at least.

    If cities banned all human-driven vehicles, and turned all streets into self-driving systems, then everything would change. No parking would be required (a vehicle spends at least 95% of its time parked), no drivers insurance, no drunk driving (only drunk passengers), no police enforcement, no accident investigations, if timed right, no traffic congestion. Most people would not have to own cars. And the cars could mostly be all-electric. No gas stations. Many streets themselves could be turned into pedestrian areas,

    Just, self-organizing mass transit. New jobs would be maintenance of these vehicles. 
    Fifteen years? No way. Maybe 3 years is a bit optimistic, but I’d say realistically... 5-7 years.
Sign In or Register to comment.