Recent Updates

Prop 22 Opponents Have a Bad Case of Sour Grapes

This week, Proposition 22 — a California ballot measure that allows certain gig workers to be exempt from the state’s AB 5 law — passed with 58 percent of the vote. Now, app-based drivers for gig companies including Uber and Lyft are able to retain their independent contractor stat… Read More
LaborPains.org Team

Prop 22 Opponents Have a Bad Case of Sour Grapes

This week, Proposition 22 — a California ballot measure that allows certain gig workers to be exempt from the state’s AB 5 law — passed with 58 percent of the vote. Now, app-based drivers for gig companies including Uber and Lyft are able to retain their independent contractor status, instead of bei… Read More
Labor Pains Admin

“Grassroots” Gig Workers Collective Exposed As UFCW Front

The Gig Workers Collective, a 501c3 nonprofit which claims to be a “grassroots” representative of gig workers, is at least partially supported and managed by the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW). The Gig Workers Collective’s cozy relationship with the UFCW was reveal… Read More
LaborPains.org Team

“Grassroots” Gig Workers Collective Exposed As UFCW Front

Update: After this post went live, the Gig Workers Collective posted a response on its Facebook page. The post describes an even closer collaboration with the UFCW than we documented below. The Collective acknowledged that the union “directly [paid] Facebook for our newly launched ads” and has been… Read More
Labor Pains Admin

UFCW Locals Keep Bylaws Out of Members’ Hands

Among the more memorable examples of unions’ anti-transparency antics is the UFCW’s 2002 lawsuit to keep its constitution hidden from the public. Labor Notes reported in 2002: In February, the UFCW International had joined with UFCW Canada and Local 777 (now re-organized as Local 247) in… Read More
LaborPains.org Team

UFCW Locals Keep Bylaws Out of Members’ Hands

Among the more memorable examples of unions’ anti-transparency antics is the UFCW’s 2002 lawsuit to keep its constitution hidden from the public. Labor Notes reported in 2002: In February, the UFCW International had joined with UFCW Canada and Local 777 (now re-organized as Local 247) in an earlier… Read More
Labor Pains Admin

Union Push to Reclassify Workers in CA Could Result in 900,000 Jobs Lost

As if workers didn’t have enough to deal with while trying to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, California has gone and made matters even worse. The state is suing rideshare apps Uber and Lyft for violating the state’s AB5 law by allegedly misclassifying workers as independent contracto… Read More
LaborPains.org Team

Union Push to Reclassify Workers in CA Could Result in 900,000 Jobs Lost

As if workers didn’t have enough to deal with while trying to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, California has gone and made matters even worse. The state is suing rideshare apps Uber and Lyft for violating the state’s AB5 law by allegedly misclassifying workers as independent contractors, instead… Read More
Labor Pains Admin

Labor-Backed Attorneys Target Uber and Lyft in Lawsuit

This week, the state of California filed a lawsuit against ride-share companies Uber and Lyft. The lawsuit claims these gig companies are misclassifying workers as independent contractors under the state’s AB5 law. The suit was filed by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra; city att… Read More
LaborPains.org Team

Labor-Backed Attorneys Target Uber and Lyft in Lawsuit

This week, the state of California filed a lawsuit against ride-share companies Uber and Lyft. The lawsuit claims these gig companies are misclassifying workers as independent contractors under the state’s AB5 law. The suit was filed by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra; city attorneys from… Read More
Labor Pains Admin