Oppose Legislation Seeking to Cut Insurance Rates for Rideshare Companies Exploiting Workers and Consumers
Legislation Seeking to Expand the Use of PLA’s & Legislation Seeking to Apply Prevailing Wages & PLA’s to the construction of data centers posted for votes in the Assembly Labor Committee
Paid Family Leave Job Protection Bill & Cannabis Agricultural Worker Organizing Bill posted in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Legislation (A-6147) seeking to drastically reduce (from $1.5 million to $100,000) the amount of uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance coverage required by a rideshare company and its drivers, such as Uber and Lyft, was recently introduced by Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-16) and Sterley Stanley (D-18). The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is opposed to this bill because it would have a negative impact on drivers and passengers that are injured while using these services, but also because these companies continue to exploit their drivers by misclassifying them as independent contractors rather than employees.
Misclassification strips away workers’ rights to numerous pro-worker protections such as unemployment insurance, workers compensation, minimum wage, overtime and the right to join a union, among others, simply to further increase corporate profits.
Similar legislation passed in other states, such as California, has proven to be detrimental for consumers and drivers alike. For more information, please visit: California’s New Rideshare Insurance Law Shifts Risk From Uber to Passengers – Heimanson & Wolf, LLP.
This legislation should not be considered until it properly protects consumers and drivers, as well as ensuring these “gig” companies properly classify their drivers and give them the benefits they deserve and the right to join a union.
Two pro-building and construction trade bills will be heard in the Assembly Labor Committee this Monday at 10:00 a.m. A-5967, sponsored by labor union members and Assemblymen DeAngelo, Verrelli and Egan, would expand the voluntary application of PLA’s to construction projects under $5 million. A-6237 (Greenwald) would also add several pro-labor requirements to the construction of certain data centers. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO supports these bills and respectfully asks for your support.
Finally, legislation (S-2950: Moriarty) seeking to enhance job protection for workers taking paid family leave and legislations assisting in the organization of agricultural workers in the cannabis industry (S-3139: Singleton) have been posted for a vote on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO supports both bills and respectfully asks for your support.