Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is about to be interviewed by @karaswisher & @profgalloway

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Uber/Lyft/DoorDash have committed $100M to pass Prop 22 to allow it to bypass AB5. Union-backed groups have raised around $866K.
"we're absolutely going to be outspent by astronomical proportions,” says Vanessa Bain, co-founder of Gig Workers Collective.

"The reality is you're not independent contractors when we're told when, where, why, and how to do the work that we do,” Bain says.

Uber wants a “third way” that’s not independent contractor and not employee. That’s why they’re trying to pass Prop 22.

"I think a third way is bullshit,” Bain says.

Swisher asks how drivers can get value out of good ratings under an AB5/employment model.

"organizing, that's the answer,” Bain says. "These companies are never going to give you anything that you don't fight for."

“Whether we close down or not it's really up to the courts and it's totally out of our control,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says about the company’s imminent shutdown in California.

(More on that here https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/16/21370828/uber-lyft-california-shutdown-drivers-classify-ballot-prop-22)

Khosrowshahi lists the safety measures it has taken since the pandemic (PPE, selfies to confirm mask wearing, etc), but @karaswisher interrupts.

"that's table stakes. you should do that, period. that's good for your business."

. @profgalloway tells Khosrowshahi that “Uber is literally ground zero for income inequality,” with Uber employees earning 6-figures, while millions drivers are only eking out a living.

Dara says its a false premise because drivers aren’t employees.

"The minute that you flip to employment, then the company has to underwrite the earnings,” Dara says. "it becomes my job to make sure that drivers... only drive in the middle of the city, only drive during peak hours"

Dara says Uber will have fewer drivers and higher prices. Predicts average fares in SF will go up 20% if it has to classify drivers as employees.

"it's not called laborism, it's not called socialism, its called capitalism,” Dara says, "and it's a system that's built to maximize shareholder value in capital."

“We’ll see how it goes for you in California,” @karaswisher says

“Wish us luck,” Dara says.

“No,” Swisher responds.

Ok here’s my write up of the interview. As usual @karaswisher & @profgalloway are 1000X better at getting to the core of Uber’s problems than CNBC/Bloomberg etc https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/19/21376009/uber-ceo-interivew-california-ab5-drivers-khosrowshahi