The
California State Supreme Court has refused to consider a legal petition seeking
to repeal a referendum passed by voters that recognises ‘gig workers’, like
Uber drivers, be treated as contractors.

Justices
made no comments on the merits of the case and told those who filed the suit that
they were free to file it in a lower court, AFP reported.

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Drivers for
ride-sharing and food delivery apps filed the lawsuit directly in California’s
top court in January to nullify a voter-endorsed labour legislation known as
Proposition 22.

“We are
disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear our case, but make no
mistake: we are not deterred in our fight to win a livable wage and basic
rights,” rideshare driver Hector Castellanos said.

“We will
consider every option available to protect California workers from attempts by
companies like Uber and Lyft to subvert our democracy and attack our rights in
order to improve their bottom lines,” he added.

Passed in
November and heavily backed by Uber, Lyft and other app-based service providers,
Proposition 22 overturned a state law that requires those companies to recognise
their drivers as employee and provide benefits.

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The legal petition
filed in January argued that the measure is invalid as it usurps the power of
state courts and legislators when it comes to worker rights and compensation,
adding that it “grossly deceived” voters.

The drivers
were joined by the Service Employees International Union in filing the suit. The
defendants in the case were the state of California and its commissioner of
labour.

Uber driver
Jim Pyatt, associated with a coalition supporting the proposition, said he was
thankful the Supreme Court declined the litigation.

“We’re
hopeful this will send a strong signal to special interests to stop trying to
undermine the will of voters who overwhelmingly stood with drivers to pass
Proposition 22,” Pyatt said in a release.

The
November vote came after a contentious campaign with labor groups claiming the
initiative would erode worker rights and benefits, and with backers arguing for
a new, flexible economic model.

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The victory
for the “gig economy” in California was expected to echo across the
United States, in a boon for app-based services while igniting fear that big business is
rewriting labor laws.

Under the
proposition, drivers remain independent contractors but Uber and Lyft are to
pay them a number of benefits including a minimum wage, a contribution to
healthcare and other forms of insurance.

Critics of
the measure said it failed to consider the full costs borne by drivers. Uber
and Lyft claimed most drivers support the contractor model.