California Uber and Lyft drivers currently seek a settlement in their massive wage theft case because they want reimbursement for the alleged unpaid wages from previous years. The negotiations between state officials and rideshare companies have led to demonstrations which took place in Los Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles.
The settlement process affects approximately 250,000 California drivers who worked for Uber and Lyft between 2016 and 2020 and their combined claims amount to trillions of dollars. Many drivers maintain that their independent contractor status became invalid because of Prop 22 which redefined their employment classification.
Daniel Russell who drove full-time as a rideshare driver asserts that he deserves reimbursement of $300,000 for unpaid wages and overtime pay and expenses. The driver operated his vehicle for 80 hours per week until his car reached 270,000 miles before it failed. The financial difficulties faced by Ben Valdez and other drivers were identical according to their testimonies.
The San Francisco driver Ibrahim Diallo explained his fight against homelessness while continuing to drive for a living. Research indicates that ride-sharing workers receive wages which drop below the minimum wage level after they subtract expenses.
Uber maintains that drivers value their flexible work arrangement while Prop 22 provides their protection yet Lyft has not made any statements. The drivers insist on holding someone accountable while they advocate for a reasonable conclusion to this prolonged dispute.
