California Uber and Lyft drivers, who won the right to unionize last year, on Tuesday celebrated the formation of what they say will be the biggest ride-hailing driver union in the world.
California is the second state to allow ride-hailing drivers to unionize after Massachusetts, and Illinois last week passed a law to allow its drivers to do the same. The milestone is notable because the companies treat their drivers as independent contractors, a worker classification that does not typically have the right to bargain collectively.
The Public Employment Relations Board notified the California Gig Workers Union last week that it had signed up at least 30% of active drivers, a threshold allowing it to represent ride-hailing drivers statewide.
Drivers and Service Employees International Union leaders spoke at a press conference in Los Angeles, saying they expect to bargain over issues such as drivers getting kicked off the apps, low pay and the effects of the companies’ algorithms on drivers’ work.
- Vikaas Shanker, a driver in Fresno who identified himself as a leader of the new union: “Uber and Lyft systems silo and separate us drivers from each other, right? As we’ve been engaging in conversations with drivers all across the state … I’ve realized that I’m not on my own in my struggles.”
California has about 350,000 ride-hailing drivers right now, according to Riko Mendez, chief elected officer of SEIU Local 521 in San José.
The drivers union has been preparing drivers for bargaining and hopes to begin bargaining with the ride-hailing companies by the end of the year, Mendez told CalMatters in an interview.
CalMatters events: CalMatters and inewsource are hosting a conversation Thursday in San Ysidro about the Tijuana River contamination crisis, an environmental emergency affecting millions on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Register here.
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Details emerging on Newsom’s wildfire liability plan
Though no bill language has been released yet, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday outlined more details of his planned legislation that would reduce how much utilities have to pay for the wildfires they cause.
The governor’s proposal has two prongs: Limit who can make claims to the state wildfire fund and limit how much they can get. To do this, Newsom wants to set up a state-administered “fast pay” program that prioritizes quicker payouts to survivors. But to participate, claimants would likely need to give up their right to sue the utility.
The governor is also proposing to eliminate or limit insurance companies’ right to recoup money from utilities when paying out claims. But insurers who oppose Newsom’s plan argue that they will likely raise premiums in response, which would affect homeowners who do not live in fire-prone areas.
Fire survivors, insurance companies and local government leaders are urging lawmakers to reject the proposal.
- Graham Knauss, chief executive of the California Association of Counties: “The utilities are finding a lot of creative ways to avoid responsibility. That’s it. We should not be opening the door for them to escape accountability.”
San Diego uses new state law to inspect detention center
A San Diego County public health official this week released a new report on conditions at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, resolving a standoff between local officials and the federal government over a state law meant to enable checkups on private prisons.
Though conditions at the immigration detention center were “generally within recommended state standards,” the county said, the facility’s medical staff failed to disclose two cases of tuberculosis, and did not respond for several weeks after the cases were discovered through a third-party medical testing vendor. The facility later cooperated with health officials.
- Sayone Thihalolipavan, county health officer, in a statement: “Tuberculosis requires immediate reporting and a coordinated response. … Failure to communicate promptly is a serious breach of basic public health protocol and creates unacceptable risk for detainees, staff, visitors, and the surrounding community.”
The county also noted that the facility did not stock vaccines and did not provide an individual with a needed medical device after 18 months in custody.
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California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: The national Democratic Party faces an uncertain future if it continues to lose ground with working class voters, give outsized influence to upper-class elites and grant too much power to professional operatives, according to a veteran political strategist.
A bill that would waive most state environmental regulations for wildfire prevention projects would also suspend safeguards that protect public health, endangered species and clean water and air, writes Wendy-Sue Rosen, a land use and environmental policy consultant.
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Californians vow to fight ‘federal takeover’ of coastline for oil drilling // KQED (free)
An oil refiner that fled CA is back — with a giant pipeline from TX // The Wall Street Journal (gift link)
An accounting glitch caused nearly half of LA’s increase in the homeless count // Los Angeles Times (paywall)
Fatal highway collisions nearly doubled on Highway 50 in Sacramento // Abridged (free)
Guess which Bay Area city is the most expensive in the world to buy a home // SFGATE (free)
Dolores Huerta returns to advocacy after César Chávez scandal // Abridged (free)
CA sets aside $250M for public hospitals. Bay Area officials say it falls far short // The Mercury News (gift link)
SF cops who pepper-sprayed wrong man used for excessive force, watchdog says // Mission Local (free)
CA still allows child marriage. This survivor wants it banned // The San Francisco Standard (paywall)
A new type of levee is taking root in Northern CA // Grist (free)
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