The Launch of a New Coalition: Protecting the Rights of Gig Workers in Massachusetts
By Grace Pham, Massachusetts Jobs with Justice Intern
Last Tuesday morning, organization leaders, city officials, and community members gathered in front of the Massachusetts State House Steps to launch the Coalition to Protect Workers’ Rights. Directed by Mike Firestone, this coalition is an alliance of workers and activists, social justice organizations, and labor unions: Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), Action for Equity, Clean Water Action, Mass. Jobs with Justice, Community Labor United, New England United 4 Justice, Union of Minority Neighborhoods, Massachusetts AFL-CIO, and more. It aims to combat Big Tech companies’ campaign to undermine the rights and benefits of their workers. Currently, gig companies argue that their workers should stay labeled as independent contractors because of the offered flexibility in their schedules. Big Tech wants to spend over $100 million on their campaign and urges the Legislature to approve of their bill H1234, which would deny thousands of their workers basic rights and protections, including unemployment, minimum wage, paid family/medical leave, paid sick time, and protections against injury, discrimination, and sexual harassment during work. In California, app-based companies have already succeeded in buying the law as the state’s Proposition 22 was approved by voters in November. Companies like Lyft, Uber, and DoorDash spent over $200 million to campaign for this ballot question that classifies their workers as independent contractors rather than employees.
At the coalition launch, advocates and community leaders created powerful signs to protest against Big Tech’s campaign, highlighting the legislation as a civil rights issue. It disproportionately affects BIPOC and immigrant workers, who consist of over 69% of app-based workers. In addition, the coalition’s launch hosted a speaker program, in which city leaders and civil rights organizers spoke out about the importance of addressing the gig economy battle and their goals to tackle the injustices brought on by companies. The crowd also heard drivers, Beth Griffith and Mutwaly Hamid, share their own experiences as a worker for gig companies and their thoughts on the issue. Griffith expressed her frustration with Big Tech companies, saying that “we earn less, have fewer benefits, and fewer protections than any other workers. Now these billion-dollar companies want to pass a law that strips away our rights for good. Drivers are going to fight back.” Speakers also emphasized that app-based workers need to be treated with dignity and respect and that they cannot let Big Tech determine who can provide for their family and who cannot or who can survive and who cannot. Some even energized the crowd with phrases such as “when we fight, we win” or “Big Tech you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side.” Despite app-based companies’ victory in California, Massachusetts remains hopeful as it believes that it will defeat Big Tech and win the fight for protecting workers’ rights.
Sources:
Boston Globe, Mass. poised to be ‘ground zero’ for high-stakes gig economy battle as potential ballot question looms, June 22, 2021.
Mass Live, Should Uber, Lyft drivers be employees? Tech companies, labor rights advocates square off over how ride-sharing drivers are classified, June 22, 2021.
WBUR/State House News, Gig Workers At Center Of Emerging Labor Law Fight, June 22, 2021.
Market Watch, Massachusetts coalition launches to fight Uber, Lyft and avoid California gig-work outcome, June 22, 2021