Women elected leaders, advocates, and community organizations speak out against Big Tech’s threat to Massachusetts communities

City councilors, allies, and union leaders unite against Uber and Lyft’s harmful ballot measure at Boston City Hall 

  BOSTON — Women elected officials, app-based workers and community leaders assembled outside of City Hall today to speak out against Big Tech’s Massachusetts ballot proposal. Uber, Lyft, and other app-based corporations are pushing to pass the measure, which threatens critical workers’ rights, including unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and Paid Family and Medical Leave. Elected officials, including Boston Councilor Kendra Lara, Chelsea Councilor Norieliz DeJesus, Everett Councilor Stephanie Martins, Malden Councilor Amanda Linehan, and Newton Councilor Emily Norton joined the press conference to condemn the proposal and stand in solidarity with the drivers, riders and taxpayers who are currently at risk.

  “When app-based companies like Uber Lyft and DoorDash propose a deceptive ballot question that would deny employees vital workplace protections, we take it as a direct attack on working women — especially women of color and immigrants,” said Boston District 6 City Councilor Kendra Lara, who recently submitted a resolution to the Boston City Council against the ballot proposal. City councilors in 6 other cities are working to pass similar resolutions. 

  The corporations behind the ballot question have already poured more than $18 million into a campaign pushing the measure. If passed, the proposal would classify app-based drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, denying them essential rights and protections under Massachusetts law. The measure also threatens to shield Uber and Lyft from liability toward drivers and riders across the state in the event of an accident, injury, or other incident. 

  “Today, women in Greater Boston stand together and say Massachusetts is not for sale” said Darlene Lombos, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Greater Boston Labor Council. “Today we stand against Big Tech, we stand against corporate greed, and we stand and fight on the side of workers.”

  “This ballot question says drivers will retain their flexibility, receive benefits, and be paid 100% of minimum wage. It’s more lies,” said Lisa Call, a member of the Massachusetts Independent Drivers Guild. “If a worker is only paid for two-thirds of the job, then she is being paid well below minimum wage and we cannot pass a law that makes that legal.”

  “Our families are being negatively impacted and the narrative that is being used to support H. 1234 and the 2022 state ballot initiative is misleading,” said Norieliz DeJesus, City Councilor for District 3 in Chelsea. “Our families need to be recognized as employees, with all employee benefits.”

  “We’re not going to fall for the okey doke” said Renee Dozier, business agent at IBEW Local 103. “We are Massachusetts, we’re better than that. Everybody spread the word: workers can’t live on $4.82 an hour!”