👩‍⚖️ Judge rules Cali's Prop 22 gig worker law unconstitutional

Early last year, California rolled out a law making gig workers -- like those driving Ubers and Lyfts -- similar to full-time employees until it was stricken months later by voters in Prop 22.

Now, just a few months after that, Prop 22 has been ruled unconstitutional.

• Ride-hailing drivers sued the state over Prop 22 in January: Their lawsuit was dismissed by the California Supreme Court, and everything seemed like it was over. But another suit was filed and heard by a lower court. That judge deemed it unconstitutional because of a provision in the law limiting gig workers’ ability to receive workers’ comp.

• One legal expert says the decision makes sense: Law professor Veena Dubal told the NYT, “I think the judge made a very sound decision in finding that Prop. 22 is unconstitutional because it had some unusual provisions in it. It was written in such a comprehensive way to prevent the workers from having access to any rights that the Legislature decided.” 

Not surprisingly, Uber and Lyft do not agree

They spent millions on Prop 22 last year and are planning an appeal. One coalition repping gig economy groups called the judge’s decision “outrageous” and an “affront” to California voters.  

The Verdict

Nothing is likely to change in California because of the judge’s decision -- yet. The gig economy companies’ representatives say the appeals process will have to play out first.