"Uber, Lyft driver caravan lands in California capital demanding a living wage", 29 August 2019

A caravan of Uber and Lyft drivers concluded their journey...in Sacramento, California, with one message to state lawmakers: pass Assembly Bill 5. The proposed state law could allow for drivers to be classified as employees, rather than independent contractors...

...The caravan...started its 500-mile-long pilgrimage in Los Angeles...before arriving in Sacramento, it stopped in downtown San Francisco...to protest in front of Uber's headquarters...

...Uber and Lyft drivers are classified as independent contractors...which means they don't get benefits including Social Security...Uber and Lyft say...this system gives drivers flexibility. "What we repeatedly hear from drivers is what they value most about Uber is the flexibility...on-demand workers should not have to sacrifice security to enjoy that flexibility."

The Uber spokesman said the company is working...on an alternative model that would give drivers a minimum earnings guarantee, a package of "portable benefits"...and "meaningful representation" that gives drivers more of a say...A Lyft spokesman said Lyft is working on the same alternatives. "Lyft is advocating for an approach in line with the interests of our drivers, by modernizing century-old labor laws that make it difficult to provide both flexibility and benefits,"...