State high court won’t hear unions challenge to Proposition 22

The state Supreme Court declined Wednesday to hear a challenge to Proposition 22, the Uber, Lyft and DoorDash backed ballot initiative that California voters passed last fall.

The high court indicated the plaintiffs could refile the petition "in an appropriate court."

SEIU, SEIU California State Council, and ride-share drivers filed the petition directly with the high court in January, alleging Proposition 22 improperly limited the Legislature's power to pass certain employment laws for gig drivers, provided a "road map for future abuse" in new ballot measures, illegally excluded drivers from the state workers' compensation program, and violates a provision in the state Constitution that requires ballot initiatives address only a single subject. Castellanos et al. v. California et al., S266551.

Proposition 22 exempts ride-share drivers from the independent contractor standard codified in California's Assembly Bill 5.

"We're thankful, but not surprised, that the California Supreme Court has rejected this meritless lawsuit," Uber driver Jim Pyatt said in a statement provided by Kathy Fairbanks of the Proposition 22 campaign, Protect App-Based Drivers and Services. "We're hopeful this will send a strong signal to special interests to stop trying to undermine the will of voters who overwhelmingly stood with drivers to pass Proposition 22."

Kristin Lynch, strategic director for SEIU, could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

-- Jessica Mach