ACTION ALERT: CALL TODAY FOR DRIVERS TO GET FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT!

On Thursday, California policymakers approved all unemployed Californians to receive the extra $600’week unemployment benefits, part of the federal CARE Act economic package.

EXCEPT MISCLASSIFIED WORKERS LIKE LYFT & UBER DRIVERS! The way the policy is written creates a barrier for drivers – saying only if they have been certified for at least a $1 or more unemployment benefit are they eligible!

Lyft and Uber have defied the law that requires them to report payroll data to the state, which has held up drivers’ benefits being determined. So while thousands of drivers have been certified to receive unemployment, their benefit is as of yet undetermined until our incomes can be verified. Their current benefit is defined as “$0.”

So because Lyft and Uber are continuing to disobey AB5 that qualifies us for regular unemployment, on Sunday, all other people certified to receive EDD will get a $600 increase in their unemployment benefit.

And drivers and other misclassified workers will receive

$0

NOTHING!

We must act TODAY!

Please call the Senate Pro Tem’s office and the Assembly Speaker TODAY – don’t wait! Tens of thousands of drivers who have no money in the bank, many with hungry kids and unpaid rent, need them to change this rule TODAY!

Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins (916) 651-4039

Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon (916) 319-2063

California Labor & Workforce Development Agency (916) 653-9900

Here’s a sample script:

“My name is _______. I’m a [driver, misclassified worker, member of Rideshare Drivers United, supporter of drivers] and live in (_____, CA).

I’m calling about CARES Act unemployment benefits for drivers and other misclassified workers.

The CARES Act specifically is designed to help ALL employees who have reduced work or job loss due to Covid.

Thousands of misclassified workers like Lyft and Uber drivers have already applied and have been certified but are receiving no benefits because Lyft and Uber aren’t following the law.

It is CRITICAL that these misclassified drivers receive the $600 extra federal dollars in their unemployment benefits starting Sunday.

TODAY we need to make sure there are NO BARRIERS for misclassified workers to receive this benefit.

Remove the $1 benefit barrier so drivers can begin receiving their federal benefit on Sunday.

Too many are without a penny to their name, have unpaid rent, and we need California to welcome – not create barriers – for these federal benefits.”

Remember - many staff in Sacramento are working from home, so it may seem different than what you're used to when you call. And the Labor Agency has the ability to administer our UI correctly - as states are administering the federal UI.

THANK YOU – and SPREAD THE WORD!

If you have not yet applied for unemployment, our guide for applying can be found here: https://drivers-united.org/p/filing-for-unemployment-as-a-driver-in-ca