Unpacking Prop. 22

Unpacking Prop 22

The Uber, Lyft and Instacart $180 million ad campaign launched this month. You’d have to be living under a rock somewhere in the California wilderness to have missed their ads. So compelling was their advertising “story” that many of our GCLA members became disheartened and figured the fight was over. The GCLA had just set up a GoFundMe account to raise money to contribute to the Coalition we joined when pushback from operators ramped up. Transportation owners got spooked about spending good money on bad, and worse, retaliation if Prop 22 should pass. All of a sudden, we felt people starting to pivot on something we’ve worked on for 6 years.

If you re-read my letter to you from last week, I said we had to see this through; we are in this to win this. I want to thank the brave hearts that listened to me and sent money our way so we could continue to fight. We are on the right side of this argument because our business model will never pass the smell test to employ IOs the way the TNCs have been able to do. If anyone thinks they can remake their businesses if Prop 22 passes, you are in for a rude awakening. Uber and their counterparts are suggesting a hybrid version of the labor law and asking the voters in California to bless it. But those voters are now hearing our side of things and feeling queasy about saying YES to something that underserves the drivers they’ve come to care about – especially during a pandemic when so many people are in financial straight jackets. The sob story, followed by veiled threats to stop serving the residents of California created panic at first. But, as reality – and our messaging - is sinking in, people are turning on Uber, Lyft et al.

Yesterday, the LA Times endorsed a NO on Prop 22. The article is critical about the 3rd tier employee model the TNCs created. It boils down to paying 20% less than minimum wage and only half of the mileage standard of the IRS. They receive no sick or family leave. The newspaper sites a myriad of reasons that Prop 22 fails to be worthy of a YES, and we’ve included that story in this week’s e-news so I encourage you to review it. In the end, the voters will decide but as of this week it looks to be an uphill battle for Uber and friends. A new statewide poll conducted by UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll shows “that 39% of the 5,900 likely voters surveyed from Sept. 9-15 would side with the companies and vote yes on Proposition 22, compared with 36% who said they would vote no and 25% still undecided. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus two points.”

As for our industry’s support, the ball is squarely on the 50-yard line with momentum swinging our way. You’re our team and now is NOT the time to walk off the field. We need everyone suited up and ready to play – that means whether it’s a $10 or $1,000 or anything in between, you must contribute to the win.

I believe in you and I think we’ve got this!

—Sara Eastwood-Richardson