Proposition_NN1 22_CRD was_VBD always_AV0 a_AT0 self-serving_AJ0 ballot_NN1 initiative_NN1 written_VVN and_CJC bankrolled_VVN by_PRP Uber_NP0 ,_PUN Lyft_NP0 and_CJC other_AJ0 gig_NN1 economy_NN1 companies_NN2 to_TO0 override_VVI state_NN1 law_NN1 and_CJC keep_VVB their_DPS drivers_NN2 in_PRP a_AT0 second-class_AJ0 employment_NN1 status_NN1 ._SENT Nevertheless_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 companies_NN2 convinced_VVD enough_DT0 California_NP0 voters_NN2 that_CJT drivers_NN2 should_VM0 be_VBI independent_AJ0 contractors_NN2 with_PRP some_DT0 bare-bones_NN2 benefits_NN2 rather_AV0 than_CJS employees_NN2 entitled_VVN to_PRP a_AT0 minimum_AJ0 wage_NN1 ,_PUN overtime_NN1 pay_NN1 ,_PUN workers_NN2 '_POS compensation_NN1 ,_PUN unemployment_NN1 insurance_NN1 and_CJC any_DT0 other_AJ0 state-mandated_AJ0 employment_NN1 benefits_NN2 ._SENT Proposition_NN1 22_CRD passed_VVN with_PRP 58_CRD %_NN0 support_NN1 last_ORD year_NN1 and_CJC set_VVD the_AT0 stage_NN1 for_PRP similar_AJ0 fights_NN2 across_PRP the_AT0 country_NN1 ._SENT Now_AV0 a_AT0 state_NN1 judge_NN1 's_POS decision_NN1 has_VHZ thrown_VVN Proposition_NN1 22_CRD into_PRP doubt_NN1 ._SENT A_AT0 Superior_AJ0 Court_NN1 judge_NN1 ruled_VVD late_AJ0 Friday_NP0 that_CJT the_AT0 initiative_NN1 is_VBZ unconstitutional_AJ0 and_CJC unenforceable_AJ0 ._SENT The_AT0 ruling_NN1 by_PRP Alameda_NP0 County_NN1 Superior_NP0 Court_NN1 Judge_NP0 Frank_NP0 Roesch_NP0 does_VDZ n't_XX0 directly_AV0 address_VVI the_AT0 debate_NN1 over_PRP gig_NN1 worker_NN1 classification_NN1 ._SENT His_DPS decision_NN1 says_VVZ the_AT0 ballot_NN1 initiative_NN1 ran_VVD afoul_NN1 of_PRF state_NN1 law_NN1 by_PRP improperly_AV0 restricting_VVG the_AT0 Legislature_NN1 from_PRP making_VVG app-based_AJ0 drivers_NN2 eligible_AJ0 for_PRP workers_NN2 '_POS compensation_NN1 and_CJC allowing_VVG drivers_NN2 to_TO0 organize_VVI to_TO0 form_VVI a_AT0 union_NN1 ._SENT In_PRP essence_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 initiative_NN1 was_VBD an_AT0 overreach_NN1 ._SENT Proposition_NN1 22_CRD remains_VVZ in_PRP effect_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 time_NN1 being_VBG ._SENT Uber_NP0 announced_VVD it_PNP will_VM0 appeal_VVI the_AT0 ruling_NN1 ._SENT This_DT0 decision_NN1 is_VBZ just_AV0 the_AT0 opening_AJ0 round_NN1 in_PRP what_DTQ will_VM0 be_VBI a_AT0 long_AJ0 legal_AJ0 fight_NN1 over_PRP an_AT0 initiative_NN1 that_CJT has_VHZ national_AJ0 implications_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 lawsuit_NN1 was_VBD brought_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 Service_NN1 Employees_NN2 International_AJ0 Union_NN1 and_CJC several_DT0 drivers_NN2 who_PNQ were_VBD vehement_AJ0 opponents_NN2 of_PRF Proposition_NN1 22._CRD They_PNP warn_VVB the_AT0 initiative_NN1 sets_VVZ a_AT0 dangerous_AJ0 precedent_NN1 by_PRP allowing_VVG companies_NN2 to_TO0 reclassify_VVI employees_NN2 as_PRP contractors_NN2 ,_PUN cut_VVB their_DPS benefits_NN2 and_CJC take_VVB away_AV0 their_DPS ability_NN1 to_TO0 organize_VVI a_AT0 union_NN1 ._SENT That_DT0 's_VBZ a_AT0 real_AJ0 concern_NN1 ._SENT Uber_NP0 ,_PUN Lyft_NP0 and_CJC DoorDash_NP0 are_VBB backing_VVG a_AT0 similar_AJ0 ballot_NN1 initiative_NN1 in_PRP Massachusetts_NP0 ._SENT The_AT0 companies_NN2 have_VHB argued_VVN that_CJT California_NP0 's_POS definition_NN1 of_PRF an_AT0 employee_NN1 is_VBZ outdated_AJ0 and_CJC too_AV0 rigid_AJ0 for_PRP the_AT0 work-when-you-want_AJ0 and_CJC for-whom-you-want_AJ0 gig_NN1 economy_NN1 ._SENT That_DT0 may_VM0 be_VBI true_AJ0 ,_PUN but_CJC the_AT0 ride-hailing_AJ0 firms_NN2 have_VHB a_AT0 financial_AJ0 interest_NN1 ,_PUN too_AV0 ._SENT Their_DPS business_NN1 models_NN2 rely_VVB on_PRP keeping_VVG drivers_NN2 as_PRP independent_AJ0 contractors_NN2 ._SENT They_PNP spent_VVD $_NN0 220_CRD million_CRD last_ORD year_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 nation_NN1 's_POS costliest-ever_AJ0 ballot_NN1 initiative_NN1 campaign_NN1 to_TO0 pass_VVI Proposition_NN1 22._CRD Proposition_NN1 22_CRD was_VBD never_AV0 the_AT0 right_AJ0 answer_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 question_NN1 of_PRF how_AVQ to_TO0 treat_VVI gig_NN1 workers_NN2 ._SENT It_PNP would_VM0 have_VHI been_VBN far_AV0 better_AJC if_CJS lawmakers_NN2 had_VHD worked_VVN to_TO0 create_VVI a_AT0 new_AJ0 category_NN1 in_PRP state_NN1 employment_NN1 law_NN1 that_CJT provides_VVZ gig_NN1 workers_NN2 rights_NN2 and_CJC benefits_NN2 without_PRP sacrificing_VVG the_AT0 flexibility_NN1 and_CJC choice_NN1 that_CJT make_VVB these_DT0 jobs_NN2 attractive_AJ0 in_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD place_NN1 ._SENT 
