Happy, busy freelance writer and editor since 2003. Co-founder of grassroots advocacy group #FightForFreelancers. Get my newsletter: https://t.co/L6RtUEEowL
You stated at today’s hearing with Julie Su that the @USDOL’s proposed new independent contractor rule is “so reasonable that hardly anyone had much criticism about it.”
Minute 3:11:55 ⬇️
2/25 There were two public hearings about this proposed rule. Both were overwhelmingly dominated by independent contractors begging the government to stop attacking our chosen careers.
I’d add a link, but @USDOL wanted no evidence of this public outrage, so made no recordings.
Apr 13, 2023 • 15 tweets • 6 min read
1/15 The people who want to wipe out independent contractors are changing their messaging.
Pay attention to what’s happening right now in the press. Our opponents are trying to shift the narrative—with impeccable timing, ahead of upcoming congressional hearings on our issue.
2/15 Two days ago, this story ran in the Los Angeles Times. In its first paragraph, the writer suggests (falsely) that virtually all independent contractors are being victimized by algorithms that are being used to determine things like pay rates.
"If you’ve ever worked for an on-demand app platform, or for Amazon, or even as an independent contractor at all in the last few years, there’s a good chance that you’ve been discriminated against — by an algorithm."
App-based workers, or what researchers using IRS data call OPEs, make up less than 10% of all the independent contractors in the country.
In other words, the vast majority of ICs have *nothing to do* with pay rates set by algorithms.
Feb 26, 2021 • 4 tweets • 3 min read
1/4 Huh.
My cell rang about an hour ago. It was a recorded message from my congressman, @RepMalinowski, asking if I wanted to be on a live forum right now and ask him a question.
You bet I did.
I told the screener that my question was about @RepMalinowski co-sponsoring ...
2/4 ... the #PROAct, even though for more than a year, I've explained to him the problem with the ABC Test in it, and how just as happened to independent contractors in California when it was tried there, this ABC Test will outlaw careers like mine.
The call screener said ...
Feb 25, 2021 • 10 tweets • 6 min read
1/10 So. There was quite the little dustup yesterday in the comments on this tweet from @LeaderHoyer about @TheDemocrats' intention to start trying to pass the #PROAct on March 8.
2/10 Proponents of the effort to outlaw most IC work have one main talking point. It is the same exact talking point we have heard in calls with the staffers who work for the bill's sponsors. These people are all reading from the same script in trying to defend the #PROAct.
Feb 23, 2021 • 4 tweets • 3 min read
1/4 There is a disconnect in the @nytimes with reporting on PPP loans and reporting on the #PROAct.
This story on PPP states, "The adjustments are intended to increase aid to the very smallest businesses, many of which are run by women, Black people ...
nytimes.com/2021/02/22/bus…2/4 ... and members of other minority groups." It also quotes @POTUS: “Getting our economy back means bringing our small businesses back." The changes “will bring much-needed, long overdue help to small businesses who really need help" ...
Aug 18, 2020 • 14 tweets • 5 min read
1/14 @TheDemocrats I am begging you to read this thread.
In 2019, when those of us who choose to earn a living as independent contractors realized your plan was to roll out ABC Test labor legislation nationwide, we thought you'd made an oversight. You started in California...
2/14 ... and then tried in New Jersey and New York with the same bills, which impose the 1930s ABC Test for labor law on our economy here in the year 2020.
Your message was that the law had to change because gig companies like Uber were out of control, misclassifying workers...
