New California law redefines who gets employment benefits. The lawsuits are just starting

A new law that dictates which California workers must receive full employment benefits takes effect Jan. 1, but the latest battle over Assembly Bill 5 is playing out in courts and could take years to resolve.

On one side are groups seeking to roll back the law, such as truck drivers who are already suing to block it, arguing it will interfere with their ability to earn a living as independent contractors.

On the other side are labor advocates like bill author Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who wrote the law to provide more financial security for gig economy workers and others. The law empowers California’s attorney general and city attorneys in the state’s four biggest cities to force companies to follow it.

Gonzalez last month publicly encouraged city attorneys to file injunctions against businesses, arguing legal action from local governments would more effectively force compliance than claims brought by employees.

Read more: https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article238049454.html