Lewis said his proposal aims to ensure drivers can access the listed rights regardless of how the pending court battle or a potential ballot fight redux plays out — or in other words, he believes even if drivers were legally declared contractors, they would still be owed the minimum wage, collective bargaining rights and other benefits in the bill.
There's no evidence that top House and Senate Democrats have app-based driver rights and benefits on their to-do lists. Even last year, when the issue was headed for the ballot box, legislative leaders showed no interest in intervening as they did for other initiative petitions. In the meantime, a company-funded coalition continues to argue that an overwhelming majority of drivers prefer independent contractor status to the full employee status that the AG's lawsuit alleges is required.
The other bill, filed by Rep. Daniel Cahill of Lynn, seeks to create"portable benefit accounts" that drivers could use.