Date: July 25, 2024
Contact: Molly Weedn, (415) 209-4217
[email protected]

California Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds Proposition 22 in Historic Ruling 

The ruling affirms California voters, protects app-based drivers and upholds a century of case law

Today, the California Supreme Court issued a historic ruling for voters, app-based drivers, and the future of California’s initiative system by upholding Proposition 22. The ruling came nearly four years after voters overwhelmingly supported the measure.

“As an app-based driver, today’s ruling is a huge sigh of relief and a win for California,” said Stephanie Whitfield, a Coachella Valley-based Instacart shopper. “For years, special interests have been trying to take away our ability to remain independent contractors, despite voters overwhelmingly approving the law and drivers continually favoring the flexibility Prop 22 has allowed. I am so grateful to the tens of thousands of drivers like me who have tirelessly advocated over the years and to the California Supreme Court for doing the right thing.” 

Nearly 60 percent of California voters passed Prop 22 in November 2020, protecting the ability of app-based rideshare and delivery drivers to remain independent contractors while providing historic new benefits including guaranteed earnings and access to a health care stipend. In survey after survey, one thing is consistently and overwhelmingly clear: drivers want to remain independent contractors. 

“The California Supreme Court ruling is an overwhelming victory for voters’ rights and the integrity of our state’s initiative system,” said Protect App Based Drivers + Services spokesperson Molly Weedn. “This ruling is not just a win for the nearly 1.4 million drivers who rely on the flexibility of app-based work to make ends meet, but for millions of consumers and thousands of businesses who rely on app-based services across the state. The courts have spoken, and this issue can finally be put to rest.” 

“App-based driving has been a lifeline for minority app-based drivers and for minority owned businesses across California,” said Dr. Tecoy Porter, Executive Director of the National Action Network of Sacramento. “Today’s ruling is not about one side “winning” but about upholding a law that drivers support, that helps connect underserved communities to transportation and access to food delivery that they may not otherwise have access to, and that gives everyone the right to work when and where they can.” 

Prop 22 provided guaranteed wages and new benefits, and since its passage, drivers have earned more than before the measure was enacted. 

About Protect App-Based Drivers & Services (PADS) Coalition

The Protect App-Based Drivers & Services (PADS) coalition, formerly the Yes on Prop 22 coalition, is continuing to engage to ensure the will of California voters is upheld; to protect access to independent, app-based jobs; and to preserve the availability, affordability and reliability of on-demand app-based rideshare and delivery services that are essential to Californians and our economy.

Proposition 22 was supported by 60% of California voters, 120,000 drivers, and a diverse coalition of more than 140 groups including social justice, senior, community, business, veterans and many others.