SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Rideshare drivers rallied at the state capitol Wednesday for Assembly Bill 5, which could dramatically change how app-based companies like Uber and Lyft treat their workers.
If the bill is passed, it could make those companies, and several other industries in California, treat workers as employees rather than independent contractors.
Mustafa Maklad, who drives for Lyft and Uber in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been rallying across the state for this bill. The Egyptian immigrant started working for the rideshare companies shortly after he moved to the United States in 2014.
He said Lyft and Uber already have the ability to fire workers and set rates.
“They [Uber] call us partners, but they treat us like we are disposable items-- not even human beings,” Maklad said.
He said drivers for these companies should be treated as employees.
RELATED: Independent contractors or employees? California bill could alter state’s gig economy
While dozens of rideshare drivers and supporters rallied at the State Capitol Wednesday, there are drivers who want to remain independent contractors.
Jermaine Brown, 36, a father of three who lives in Sacramento's Greenhaven neighborhood, left his job as general manager of a rental car company to drive for Lyft full-time.
He said driving for Lyft allows him to have more flexibility. He said he likes to work at night but sometimes his kids basketball practices and other family obligations require him to switch his schedule on a moments notice.
“I don’t want it to pass because I don’t want it to take away my flexibility as being an independent contractor, being able to drive on my terms, and also being able to be there for my family," Brown said.
Brown generally works eight to 10 hours a day, five days a week. He said on a good night, he can make as much as $300.
He opposes the proposed legislation because he's concerned it would take away his flexibility.
Adrian Durbin, director of policy communications for Lyft, said the company is pushing for legislation that would modernize labor laws. Durbin said the company would like to see legislation that is tailored to benefit workers across the emerging app-based gig economy.
An employment-based model for Lyft drivers would increase costs for passengers and increase wait times, Durbin said. Drivers would lose flexibility and there would be a lot less drivers, he said.
“We want to protect the flexibility that allows drivers to work when they want to, for however long they want, while also protecting the upside earnings potential," Durbin said. In California, drivers earn over $31 per booked hour right now, that’s up over 6 percent
A majority of Lyft drivers work less than 20 hours per week, according to Lyft.
The proposal could affect many workers in app-based industries as well as truck drivers, travel agents, language translators, musicians and dog walkers.
The California Truckers Guild is opposing the proposed measure, saying it would reverse decades of independence for California truck drivers.
Although, advocates with the California Coalition for Travel Organizations, who represents travel agents across the state, say they'd support the bill if exemptions for certain workers were made.
The bill heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Aug. 30 for a vote to move it to the floor.
Continue the conversation with Giacomo on Facebook.