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This is a great round-up of a dilemma #gigeconomy workers are unfairly being forced to face in California and New York (and which quotes yours truly 
) https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/23/uber-lyft-drivers-fear-unemployment-benefits-will-be-used-against-them.html
) https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/23/uber-lyft-drivers-fear-unemployment-benefits-will-be-used-against-them.html
Basically: Congressâ #coronavirus relief bill, the CARES Act, 1) expanded regular unemployment insurance (UI) and 2) created a new program (PUA) for workers who fall thru the cracks of traditional UI (2/X)
While PUA has created a vital lifeline for workers who would otherwise be left behind, workers can receive more benefits if they qualify for regular UI #unemploymentbenefits than PUA https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/business/economy/uber-drivers-unemployment-benefits.html
The law in this case is clear: New York and California gig workers should qualify for regular UI benefits. But, they are being blocked by their employers, @Uber @lyft and @Postmates (4/X)
Those companies earn higher profits by misclassifying their workers as contractors, rather than employees, who earn more rights and benefits, as I wrote for @equitablegrowth https://equitablegrowth.org/how-u-s-companies-harm-workers-by-making-them-independent-contractors/ (5/X)
Here, gig employers are refusing to send states necessary information to process their workersâ UI claims. This helps them avoid paying UI taxes (among other benefits like min wage, overtime, health insurance, paid leave) (6/X)
The dilemma for gig workers is: accept the lower PUA benefits, or press their legal claim to regular UI.
But, most gig workers are low-income, so cant afford to wait out a legal battle during this coronavirus crisis
But, most gig workers are low-income, so cant afford to wait out a legal battle during this coronavirus crisis
By accepting PUA, some are afraid they will be hurting the case that they are full employees, as California law says (but which is challenged in court by @Uber) (8/X)
But, as I told @Gregiacurci, workers are on solid ground in accepting PUA for now. They need the money and state officials like @JulieSuCA have advised them to take it while @AGBecerra fights for their rights as full employees (9/X)
It is so sad that families in need are scared to accept assistance when unemployment is breaking records. @Postmates @lyft and @uber could help these families by ending their campaigns to evade responsibility for their workers (10/10) https://twitter.com/equitablegrowth/status/1265346768327323648
