[CABS-Talk] Fwd: [NFBC-Info] Are Uber/Lyft Shutting Down in California?
Cricket Bidleman
cricketbidleman at gmail.com
Fri Aug 21 13:06:30 UTC 2020
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Robert Stigile <rstigile at gmail.com>
> Date: August 20, 2020 at 21:12:18 MST
> To: adepner1425 at gmail.com, cweatherly101 at gmail.com, ms.christina.daniels at gmail.com, cthurston74 at gmail.com, chandtw at pacbell.net, dbravell at samobile.net, debsphilly1 at gmail.com, dsmithnfb at gmail.com, nfb.ca.sj at gmail.com, joystigile at gmail.com, judotina48kg at gmail.com, michaeljr66 at yahoo.com, buhrow at nfbcal.org, nfbcrivercity at gmail.com, rachel.grider at gmail.com, rhouston58 at gmail.com, rstigile at gmail.com, preciousminny32 at att.net, president at nfbcal.org, titostewart08 at gmail.com, ever.hairston at gmail.com, blindwise.jj at gmail.com, cricketbidleman at gmail.com, tmanosh at gmail.com, cathygaten1955 at gmail.com
> Subject: Fwd: [NFBC-Info] Are Uber/Lyft Shutting Down in California?
>
> Hello All Chapter President's,
> Tim Elder asked me to forward this e-mail to you in order to send out to your members.
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Robert Stigile, Second Vice-president
> national Federation of the Blind of California
> President San Fernando Valley Chapter
> C: 818-381-9568
> email: rstigile at gmail.com
> The National Federation of the Blind is a Community of Members and Friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the Nations Blind.
> Every day we work together to help Blind people live the lives we want.
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: president--- via NFBC-Info <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Aug 20, 2020 6:51 PM
> Subject: [NFBC-Info] Are Uber/Lyft Shutting Down in California?
> To: 'NFB of California List' <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: president at nfbcal.org
>
>> Friends,
>>
>>
>>
>> Many of us have realized the benefits of ridesharing and food/grocery
>> delivery services in California. For blind people, these services offer
>> unprecedented access and convenience where transportation might have
>> otherwise been a barrier. Ridesharing, with the exception of drivers that
>> continue to discriminate, allows blind people to enjoy convenience
>> comparable to those with drivers licenses or personal vehicles. Many are
>> confused about whether or not Uber and Lyft are cancelling operations in
>> California today. You may have seen articles and statements from uber and
>> Lyft explaining that they were going to stop service in California by
>> midnight tonight. That is now not happening. Here is the digest version of
>> what you should know.
>>
>>
>>
>> Last year, California enacted A.B. 5
>> <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=20192
>> 0200AB5> , which makes it highly probable that sharing economy companies
>> such as Uber, Lyft, Instacart, DoorDash, etc., are now illegally
>> misclassifying drivers /shoppers as independent contractors instead of as
>> employees. On one hand, employees enjoy certain protections and rights that
>> independent contractors do not. On the other, independent contractors enjoy
>> some freedoms and flexibility that employees do not.
>>
>>
>>
>> In response to A.B. 5, these companies organized to collect enough voter
>> signatures to add a special initiative on the ballot for the election this
>> November. Proposition 22
>> <https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_22,_App-Based_Drivers_as_Con
>> tractors_and_Labor_Policies_Initiative_(2020)> , if it passes, will modify
>> the law in A.B. 5 to ensure that the drivers/shoppers retain their status as
>> independent contractors. Drivers would also receive some, but not all,
>> protections and earnings guarantees traditionally associated with
>> employment.
>>
>>
>>
>> Earlier this year, several city attorneys and the California Attorney
>> General engaged their power under A.B. 5 to immediately enforce the law
>> notwithstanding the issue for the ballot this November. They sought a court
>> order forcing Uber/Lyft to reclassify their drivers as employees and begin
>> paying all necessary costs associated with employment. Other city attorneys
>> are exploring similar actions for food delivery companies. A California
>> state judge recently granted the request of the Attorney General and city
>> attorneys and gave Uber/Lyft 10 days to appeal the order before it became
>> effective. Uber/Lyft appealed and threatened that they would terminate
>> service to California if the appeals court did not hear their case and put a
>> hold on the trial judge's order pending the outcome of the appeal.
>>
>>
>>
>> The appeal was granted today (August 20, 2020) shortly after noon and
>> Uber/Lyft will not need to comply with the trial judge's order until after
>> their appeal is heard in full later this October. Meanwhile, Uber/Lyft have
>> no reason to be shutting down for now, though many folks received emails and
>> alerts today suggesting otherwise.
>>
>>
>>
>> This all means that the voters will likely be able to decide the issue this
>> November by voting on Proposition 22. The question of whether the drivers
>> and shoppers that we all now depend on should be fully protected as
>> employees against their preference or given flexibility and basic minimum
>> protections as contractors is a highly political debate involving workers'
>> rights, freedom to contract and social policy. Many people believe that
>> forcing these drivers/shoppers and others to become employees will greatly
>> increase the price, availability and growth of these sharing economy
>> services. Others note that we should pay those we depend on a basic living
>> wage and that these companies with multi-billion-dollar valuations should
>> absorb the cost for their workers.
>>
>>
>>
>> I encourage you to vote your preference. Prices for ridesharing and
>> grocery/delivery is very likely to increase if these individuals become
>> employees. We may also see longer wait times and reduced coverage in
>> smaller communities. That said, we should all ask ourselves whether the
>> compensation being paid to the workers that we now depend on is fair.
>> Further, are the minimum protections and earnings offered by Proposition 22
>> an appropriate compromise to this highly political debate? Vote! Vote!
>> Vote! Ensure your voice is heard on this important issue.
>>
>>
>>
>> The National Federation of the Blind of California will be featuring some
>> debate and information about this topic at our state convention, October
>> 22-25. Come learn more and educate yourself and others for the election.
>> Also, if you are passionate about this topic and want to speak in favor or
>> against Proposition 22 in various advocacy forums, our organization has been
>> asked to identify spokespersons for further advocacy. While the affiliate
>> will remain neutral on this highly political issue, I welcome debate and
>> further discussion. Affordable ride and delivery services are an
>> unquestionable benefit for blind people. But we also have a responsibility
>> as citizens to help our fellow man if we want to be treated likewise. Is
>> Proposition 22 a fair compromise? Contribute your voice to the debate.
>>
>> <https://www.nfbcal.org/convention/> https://www.nfbcal.org/convention/
>>
>> Join our email list
>> <http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org> or
>>
>> Facebook page <https://www.facebook.com/nationsblindca/> to receive notice
>> when the convention registration form is posted in the next few weeks.
>>
>>
>>
>> Tim Elder
>>
>> President
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind of California
>>
>> president at nfbcal.org
>>
>> (916) 382-0372
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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