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Why the Latest Battle Between California and Gig Companies Is a Big Deal

Rideshare drivers Wayne Anderson (L) and Erica Mighetto (R) rally outside Uber Headquarters in San Francisco to push for Assembly Bill 5 legislation and basic worker's protections on August 27, 2019. (Sruti Mamidanna/KQED)

For the last eight years, Uber and Lyft have successfully beaten state and local attempts to change its core labor model: treating drivers as independent contractors instead of employees with benefits.

Then the pandemic hit. And now, California’s public officials — including state Attorney General Xavier Becerra — might actually have the political will to force gig companies to change how they treat their employees.

Guest: Sam Harnett, tech and work reporter for KQED

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