Expanding rights of "gig" workers California Senate passes Assembly Bill 5

The union--led fight for expanded rights of the non-unionized workers of the "gig economy" has passed a major milestone.  The California Senate has passed and Governor Gavin Newsome said he will sign Assembly Bill 5 which will greatly expand the number of workers treated as employees rather than "independent contractors".  The results will include workers compensation coverage, wage and hour law protections, and perhaps a boost to the unions who seek to represent the workers of  companies like Uber and Lyft.    The measure's key provisions are explained below in the sponsor's statement. - gwc

...The bill would provide that for purposes of the provisions of the Labor Code, the Unemployment Insurance Code, and the wage orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission, a person providing labor or services for remuneration shall be considered an employee rather than an independent contractor unless the hiring entity demonstrates that [1]the person is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, [2] the person performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business, and [3] the person is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation or business. ...