Senate labor committee advances rideshare organizing bill, prevailing wage and worker-protection measures; privacy and heat-illness bills move forward

The Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement convened to consider a series of employment and labor bills and advanced multiple measures to later committees, including a high-profile rideshare organizing bill.

Assemblymember Alex Lee Wicks presented AB 1340, which he described as a measure that would "provide rideshare drivers, also known as transportation network company or TNC drivers, with the choice to organize, join a union, and collectively negotiate for better wages, benefits, and protections." Assemblymember David Berman, a joint author, asked the committee to support the measure and "respectfully request an I vote." Supporters including driver-witnesses Nick Kavler (Stockton) and Jesus Guerrero (Los Angeles) told the committee the bill would give drivers a voice when companies take adverse actions such as deactivations.

Companies opposed. Nick Johnson, director of state and local policy for Lyft, told the committee Lyft "respectfully oppose[s] Assembly Bill 1340," arguing it would conflict with Proposition 22 and would undermine driver…