Live data from Hacker News

Update on AB5

uber.com

1–10 of 343 posts

Re: Update on AB5

#3
I think the proper classification of drivers is likely an existential threat to Uber, and they are responding as such. I find it highly unlikely that a court would find transportation to be outside the scope of Uber's business. Although you have to almost admire the sheer brazenness in their admission that they will not adhere to the law.

Re: Update on AB5

#6
> Our proposal avoids the potential harm of forcing drivers to be employees, whether or not they want to—and the vast majority tell us they don’t want to be.

> Contrary to some of the rhetoric we’ve heard, AB5 does not automatically reclassify any rideshare drivers from independent contractors to employees.

This may seem like an immediate contradiction, but I guess they've reframed it so their proposal is actually in line with AB5?

great pr-speak

> But just because the test is hard does not mean we will not be able to pass it. In fact, several previous rulings have found that drivers’ work is outside the usual course of Uber’s business, which is serving as a technology platform for several different types of digital marketplaces.

Also seems like they will continue to thwart where they can (which I can't blame them for really) but seems aggressive to note. This reads more like a shareholder update, which makes sense.

Re: Update on AB5

#7
Are they really trying to claim that Uber is not a transportation company but instead "a technology platform for several different types of digital marketplaces"?

I guess we do live in a post-truth era.

Re: Update on AB5

#8
As someone who drives Uber on occasion when I'm a little bored and looking for something to do, I think it's great that I'm not an Uber employee.

I can do 10 hours or I can do 0 hours based on nothing but my own whim. I don't have a problem with people organizing to get a better deal for themselves, but I like the way it works now.

I've worked for companies that misclassify workers, and Uber isn't it as far as I understand. I may be convinced otherwise, but I don't see it.

Re: Update on AB5

#9
post #2

Perfect way to eliminate the competition via regulatory lock out

No, AB5 simply requires that they compete fairly with all other transit systems that recognize their employees as employees.

The reality is that all these “gig economy” companies are only able to compete by unfairly claiming that their employees are somehow not their employees.

Re: Update on AB5

#10
>Bringing drivers access to robust portable benefits like sick leave and injury protection;

What? Those are embarassing offers.

> Our proposal avoids the potential harm of forcing drivers to be employees, whether or not they want to—and the vast majority tell us they don’t want to be

I would love to see the data behind the 'vast majority'

Post reply on HN