Michelle Steel, Republican candidate for CA-48, today called on Governor Gavin Newsom to suspend California Assembly Bill 5. AB5 tightens the definition of independent contractors thereby restricting possible employment opportunities for Californians.
“Now is the time to give Californians as many employment opportunities as possible, and that means not burdening them with unnecessary legal restraints like AB5,” Steel said. “As our communities rally together to get through this pandemic, job restrictions should not add to our list of worries which is why I am urging Governor Newsom to suspend AB5 during this period with so many jobs on the line.”
AB5 codified a California Supreme Court case, Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court, which held that most workers are employees and ought to be classified as such. AB5 not only affects gig workers, but also freelance journalists and musicians.
Despite the difficulty Californians are facing with trying to find work, Harley Rouda is backing a federal version of the bill.
“It’s troubling that while Californians struggle with finding work because of AB5, Harley Rouda is advocating for a federal version of this legislation,” Steel said.
