Photo: (Jacqueline García / Real America News) / Impremedia
Dozens of drivers from Uber, DoorDash, Instacart and other applications simultaneously protested this Tuesday in Los Angeles and San Francisco to ask the owners of these companies to fulfill the promises of Proposition 22.
The measure, approved at the end of 2020, allows rideshare and meal delivery app companies to classify their drivers as independent contractors.
As a result, drivers would not have the mandatory benefits that regular employees receive such as overtime and paid sick or unemployment days. In exchange, these companies offered, among other benefits, a health insurance stipend for workers who drive more than hours per week.
But so far many of the drivers said they felt cheated. Some said they had medical bills that they have not been able to pay due to not having the means.
Ana Barragán, an Uber driver since Three years ago, he said that he initially worked until 50 or 60 hours per week but in the last months down to 30 hours or less every seven days since she has sciatica and stress problems that prevent her from sitting for a long time.
“This it causes me pain from the waist down to the hip and reaching the leg, the knee and ending on the sole of the foot, “said the woman who can only work three-hour periods and must take a break.
“But the lack of medical insurance does not allow me to take physiotherapy,” said the host of 53 year old.
Added that he does not qualify for Medica l because he exceeded the income limits but when he tried to apply for insurance on his own the cost was $ per month.
“This was adding the help that as they are going to give us, ”said Barragán.
Luz Laguna is another driver who arrived yesterday at the caravan accompanied by his 4 year old son. She has worked for Uber for three years and usually drives around hours a week.
“We have tried to make the hours a week that they [la empresa] They ask to qualify, we have to follow that rhythm for three months, but when we apply they reject the application ”, indicated Laguna, who has two children under the age of years.
She said that when Uber found out that she had Medical they did not want to change her medical insurance to a private one.
“When they put the Proposition 22 at the table they did not specify that they were going to reject those who had the Medical plan “, he said.
“Today we demand that each driver who qualifies with the average hours worked can receive a stipend to be able to pay for medical insurance and that it be given without so many obstacles,” he added.
The demonstration occurs at a time when that Uber is facing a report detailing its extreme efforts to hide its profitability and protect itself from its tax obligations.
Business Insider revealed that Uber reported $ 5, 800 million in global revenue in 2019 —excluding the United States and China— but claimed a loss of $ 4, 500 million for tax purposes.
Activists claim that these platforms that employ drivers have created barriers to accessing health care stipend that are not stipulated in Proposition .
Drivers also report massive confusion regarding the health care benefit: the 66% report that their employers have not provided them with enough information on how to apply for the stipend and the % said they have not been given adequate information about which drivers are eligible.
A survey Tulchin Research report details the extreme and precarious circumstances in which workers in this branch find themselves and that the % of surveyed drivers are not eligible for Proposition’s health care stipend .
The 29% reported that he does not have health insurance and the 31% trust Medical for health coverage.
Workers already have health insurance
In response to the accusations, Uber recently published a survey which showed that 89% of drivers reported already having health insurance another source, while the 14% Qualified and Enrolled to Receive Proposition Health Care Contribution Payments 22.
“The The goal of the health care stipend is to provide drivers and delivery drivers who do not yet have health insurance a path to access coverage, ”Uber said in a statement.
“Uber driver and delivery surveys show that the vast majority already have health insurance coverage from another employer, spouse, prior service, or some other source.”
Doordash said that since the passage of Proposition 22 have worked hard to educate drivers, known as “Dashers” about the new benefits and ensure that the process for accessing the health care stipend for those who qualify are quick and easy.
However, the number of its beneficiaries is much smaller since very few work more than 15 hours required. “On average, Dashers provide less than 4 hours a week and many already receive medical care through other sources,” the company noted.
Geoff Vetter, spokesperson for the Protect App-Based Drivers and Services Coalition, said that the % of drivers work less than 20 hours per week and that most do less than 10 hours per week.
“App platforms have communicated extensively with drivers about this new benefit [para saber] how to qualify for the stipend and how to apply,” said Vetter.
“Many of those workers have other jobs that provide benefits such as health care.”