After port shutdowns, Gov. Newsom should lead on this issue that impacts California and the entire nation.
The imminent imposition of AB 5 on the trucking industry triggered the recent shutdowns at California ports, including Oakland.. This change significantly narrows the circumstances for someone to qualify as an “independent contractor” and prohibits more than 70,000 drivers from continuing to earn a living under a model that has been allowed for decades.
As stakeholders at the frontlines of the goods-movement crisis, we do not support additional disruptions to California’s already strained supply chain. However, we understand the predicament that thousands of owner-operators find themselves in as enforcement of AB 5 on the trucking industry is imminent. Truly, what could be expected from these owner-operators who see their livelihoods on the line?
predominantly minority individuals, pointed to the flexibility and compensation afforded to them as independent contractors.Quang Nguyen