A California ride-share driver advocacy group filed a complaint Monday April, 20, in state court against Uber Technologies, Inc., alleging the company violated Proposition 22 and should be barred from classifying its drivers as independent contractors.
Rideshare Drivers United (RDU), a California nonprofit representing more than 20,000 app-based drivers in the state, claimed Uber breached the Protect App-Based Drivers and Services Act, as amended by 2020’s Proposition 22.
Allegations in the Complaint
The complaint alleges that Uber:
- Terminates drivers on grounds not specified in their contracts
- Fails to provide a meaningful appeals process for deactivated drivers
- Prohibits drivers from declining rides based on customer location or the presence of a service animal
- Withholds sufficient earnings information for drivers to verify they are receiving required compensation
Legal Argument and Requested Relief
RDU, represented by attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan of Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C., argues that because Uber has not complied with Proposition 22, the company cannot invoke its independent contractor protections.
The suit seeks a court declaration that Uber is disqualified from asserting its drivers are independent contractors. Such a ruling would expose Uber to misclassification claims under the California Labor Code.
Background on Proposition 22
Proposition 22 passed in November 2020 after a coalition of gig companies spent more than $220 million on the campaign. Uber alone spent more than $50 million supporting the measure.
The measure exempted app-based transportation and delivery companies from Assembly Bill 5, which had codified the state’s ABC test for employee classification.
The California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 22’s constitutionality in Castellanos v. State of California in July 2024.
Case Status
The case has no trial date. Uber has not publicly responded to the complaint.
