“Uber and Lyft drivers protest to demand more benefits during coronavirus crisis”, 19 March 2020

Rideshare drivers in San Francisco [protested]…on Thursday…in front of Uber’s headquarters, demanding the company provide them with more benefits as they continue to work through the coronavirus pandemic. The drivers are calling for the enforcement of AB5, a landmark California law that…reclassifies drivers from contractors to full-time employees entitled to benefits.

[Gig] giants Uber and Lyft have spent millions to resist the law, insisting that their drivers are not employees and refusing them the minimum three days of paid sick leave required by the state, unemployment benefits or disability insurance. “We are workers, we are entitled to our rights and safety,” he said. “We cannot work from home, our car is where we work.”

…81% of Uber and Lyft drivers in the US said they have seen a decrease in demand since coronavirus measures began to be enforced and 80% say earnings are down in the past week,…“We are getting starvation wages…”. [65%] of respondents to the Ride Share Guy survey said they have no other way to earn money than Uber or Lyft. “AB5 has to be enforced,…for our own economic stability, but for the health and wellbeing of our nation and communities”.