Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg joined dozens of Uber drivers who circled the company’s Market Street headquarters Tuesday, horns honking and flags flying, to advocate for a bill that could classify them as employees with protections and benefits.

Tuesday was day two of the drivers’ caravan protest from Los Angeles to Sacramento to lobby for the passage of AB5, a bill that would codify the California Supreme Court Dynamex decision that makes it easier for workers to be classified as employees rather than independent contractors.

Buttigieg said all full-time and part-time workers deserve representation and protections for a successful future economy.

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“Do we want a better future for everyone, whether full-time in a traditional company or not? Will we stand up for that? Yes,” he said.

Edan Alva, who lives in Alameda and drives for Uber, Lyft and the family-oriented ride-hailing service Zum, said he uses Covered California for health insurance for himself and his son.

“People matter. People are not machines. People should not be chained to an app,” he said outside Uber headquarters. “People deserve basic protections like retirement and healthcare.”

He said he cut back from working 50 to 60 hours a week because of excruciating back pain but that he needs the money — although he added that his earnings are unpredictable and have gone down in the past five years.

Back to Gallery Buttigieg joins Uber, Lyft drivers in San Francisco... 4 1 of 4 Photo: Courtesy of Pete for America 2 of 4 Photo: Brittany Hosea-Small / Special to The Chronicle 3 of 4 Photo: Brittany Hosea-Small / Special to The Chronicle 4 of 4 Photo: Brittany Hosea-Small / Special to The Chronicle







Uber and Lyft spokesmen said they were working with legislators and labor organizers to provide protections like a minimum earnings guarantee and portable benefits. Uber spokesman Davis White said in an email that drivers “should not have to sacrifice security for flexibility.”

Many drivers blocking the streets Tuesday also work for Lyft, which said 89% of its 275,000 drivers in California drive fewer than 20 hours per week.

The I’m Independent Coalition opposing AB5 said that more than 48,000 ride-hail drivers and on-demand couriers have emailed, called or met with their legislator to demand action to fix Dynamex and not take away their choice to be independent. A statement Tuesday said AB5 could block drivers who choose to work fewer hours from having that opportunity.

Alva said AB5 isn’t about flexibility, which he believes he would retain, but about benefits.

Organizing campaign Mobile Workers United Alliance didn’t get a permit for the protest but intended to fully cooperate with police, spokesman Mike Long said. Traffic grew congested on Market Street. A city bus cut a tight corner around the caravan while a biker looked unsteady as she navigated between two lanes. Protesters were stopped from entering Uber headquarters by security but chanted “we’ll be back.”

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench