Jon Weinberg is a student at Harvard Law School.
A newly formed coalition of Gig economy executives, labor leaders, venture capitalists, business-people, academics and policy professionals announced in a letter published today that they support the creation of a social safety net for workers in the Gig economy. The formation of the coalition was first reported by The New York Times. The coalition includes the leaders of several large Gig economy firms including Lyft, Instacart, Handy, and Etsy but notably not Uber. Lyft and Handy are defendants in worker classification suits, while Instacart recently re-categorized some of its workers as employees. Labor representatives in the coalition include former SEIU President Andy Stern, the presidents of SEIU Local 2015 and SEIU Local 775, and Freelancers Union Founder and Executive Director Sara Horowitz.
The coalition’s letter, entitled “Common ground for independent workers: Principles for delivering a stable and flexible safety net for all types of work,” stopped short of suggesting any changes to current Gig economy worker classification or outlining specific policies, but did articulate principles for the creation of a social safety net covering workers in the Gig economy. Those principles are:
1. Supporting both stability and flexibility is good for workers, business and society.
2. We need a portable vehicle for worker protections and benefits.
3. The time to move the conversation forward is now.
With respect to a model delivering “benefits and protections such as workers compensation, unemployment insurance, paid time off, retirement savings, and training/development” to workers not covered by an employment relationship, the coalition recommended the vehicle be independent of a particular work relationship, flexible and pro-rated, portable, universal, and supportive of innovation.
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July 4
The DOL scraps a Biden-era proposed rule to end subminimum wages for disabled workers; millions will lose access to Medicaid and SNAP due to new proof of work requirements; and states step up in the noncompete policy space.
July 3
California compromises with unions on housing; 11th Circuit rules against transgender teacher; Harvard removes hundreds from grad student union.
July 2
Block, Nanda, and Nayak argue that the NLRA is under attack, harming democracy; the EEOC files a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels; and SEIU Local 1000 strikes an agreement with the State of California to delay the state's return-to-office executive order for state workers.
July 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Department of Labor proposes to roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by public defenders over a union’s Gaza statements, and Philadelphia’s largest municipal union is on strike for first time in nearly 40 years. On Monday, the U.S. […]
June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]