Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #FightForFreelancers
Most recents (11)
1/25 Dear @RepTeresaLF,
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 ⬇️
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.
I’d add a link, but @USDOL wanted no evidence of this public outrage, so made no recordings.
3/25 So many independent contractors begged the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy for help in stopping @USDOL’s rule change that the SBA office came out against the proposal.
It used the word “deficient.”
advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/upl…
It used the word “deficient.”
advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/upl…
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.
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.
latimes.com/business/techn…
latimes.com/business/techn…
3/15 The story is based on “research” by Veena Dubal—a name well known to us. She’s one of the “researchers” whose work underpinned the mess in California that led to the #FreelanceBusting ABC Test law known as #AB5.
uchastings.edu/2018/05/14/uc-…
uchastings.edu/2018/05/14/uc-…
1/4 Dear @bcmerchant,
You wrote:
"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."
latimes.com/business/techn…
You wrote:
"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."
latimes.com/business/techn…
2/4 What a wildly inaccurate lede.
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.
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.
3/4 In fact, study after study (after study after study) shows that most of us are happy with our choice to be independent contractors.
We're not being discriminated against.
fightforfreelancersusa.com/data-and-studi…
We're not being discriminated against.
fightforfreelancersusa.com/data-and-studi…
Dear @GavinNewsom I sit here realizing that you are spending every day, fighting to keep your job, and the career you’ve built. You are trying to make the case that you should keep your job, and that’s a pretty terrible feeling. 1/
The irony is not lost on me that in early 2020, I was one of thousands of California freelancers, calling your office and the offices of my assembly person and senator, asking for help to keep my own livelihood, one I’d worked to build over a period of years, harmed by #AB5 2/
I called daily, wrote letters, took meetings with lawmakers explaining my #smallbusiness And while I got some sympathetic listening, there was no action taken to help professionals like myself from being cast aside. Frustrating as heck. 3/
If you’re a freelancer or independent contractor, the #PROAct comes down to risk management. We have decent control over the risks in our business. Work hard, price right, diversify your clients/industries/skills and you’ll stay busy. 1/11
#NoPROAct #FightForFreelancers
#NoPROAct #FightForFreelancers
But there are also exogenous risks. #Freelance clients disappear for a variety of reasons, many of them beyond our control. 2/11
Over the course of 22 years, I’ve lost biz to budget cuts, bankruptcies, PMs or editors who retired or moved to different companies, and full-time people hired to do the work I was doing as a #freelancer. Stuff happens. 3/11
Sometime in the mid '90s, I had to work a tradeshow booth at the Long Beach Convention Center in SoCal.
I show up at zero-dark-thirty to set up all the crap. I am hung over & mentally preparing for 8 hours of utter boredom. 1/
#noPROAct #FightForFreelancers
I show up at zero-dark-thirty to set up all the crap. I am hung over & mentally preparing for 8 hours of utter boredom. 1/
#noPROAct #FightForFreelancers
I arrive at the front door w/ a box of magazines under my left arm, a cup of coffee in my right hand, and a 3-pound Motorola Rat Patrol cell phone on my hip that's dragging down my pants.
2/
2/
As I approach the door, a surly-looking guy steps into my way with a dolly.
Me: Uh, good morning.
Surly Guy: You can't bring that in here yourself. <points at magazine box>
Me: ????
SG: Put it on the dolly. We need to take it to the loading dock.
3/
Me: Uh, good morning.
Surly Guy: You can't bring that in here yourself. <points at magazine box>
Me: ????
SG: Put it on the dolly. We need to take it to the loading dock.
3/
i don't get stressed easily but this is causing me so much stress.😭 the PRO act threatens people like myself who want to be full-time freelancers. i chose this path because i wanted more freedom in my life. i don't want that taken away! #FightForFreelancers #noproact #freelancer
i really hope the PRO act either doesn't pass or is amended. i'm so upset and scared right now. i don't want to be an employee. i am trying to move away from that. i chose to be independent. #FightForFreelancers #noproact #freelancer #freelancers #proact thehill.com/opinion/financ…
here is more info about how the PRO act hurts freelancers like me. does anyone care about people who WANT to freelance? we chose this! why aren't more people talking about this?! orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-… #FightForFreelancers #noproact #freelancer #freelancers #proact
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 ...
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 ...
The call screener said ...
3/4 ... he was an IC too, and hadn't heard about the #PROAct, but was going to make sure to look into it now.
I was then put on hold for the full hour. The congressman never took my question.
Although, I did hear him yell "No!" twice when he appeared to believe he was muted...
I was then put on hold for the full hour. The congressman never took my question.
Although, I did hear him yell "No!" twice when he appeared to believe he was muted...
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.
Let's discuss what these comments taught us.
Let's discuss what these comments taught us.
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.
3/10 This talking point is some version of, "The ABC Test in the #PROAct is only for the purpose of union organizing. It doesn't affect wages, hours or terms of employment."
Here's why they're using that language, and why their argument is disingenuous.
Here's why they're using that language, and why their argument is disingenuous.
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…
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" ...
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...
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...
Your message was that the law had to change because gig companies like Uber were out of control, misclassifying workers...
3/14 ... as independent contractors when they should have been employees with benefits. People like me--who make up the 70-80% of people who consistently say we prefer IC work--figured we were accidentally caught in the crosshairs of this policy, and that you'd exempt us ...
