Uber/Lyft drivers hold press conference in response to companies' opposition to AB5

On Friday, Uber and Lyft sent mass emails and in-app notifications to their drivers urging them to oppose Assembly Bill 5, the California legislation that would enshrine basic worker protections for Uber and Lyft drivers in the state. The companies made it seem as if they were working on their own package of new policies for drivers, when in reality the new policies were copied almost verbatim from platforms that drivers have been pushing for months.

The move comes just a few days after the heads of both Uber and Lyft wrote an op-ed in the Chronicle saying they were ready to come to the table and work with drivers. Now that both companies have unilaterally decided to oppose AB5 and attempted to use drivers as free lobbyists, we know that was a lie.

On Tuesday, June 18, at 11 am, drivers with Gig Workers Rising will be holding a press conference outside Uber's headquarters in San Francisco to speak about the latest moves from the company and launching a petition for drivers in support of AB5. Drivers will be urging Uber employees to speak to their executives about this disingenuous move by the companies and let them know that drivers were not consulted and do not stand behind Uber and Lyft's actions.