Battle Over Gig Work in Massachusetts Ramps Up With PR Duel

Massachusetts is emerging as the next front in the battle over the gig economy’s workforce model, as Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. push for measures that would cement the status quo while pro-worker groups mobilize in response.

Dozens of civil rights groups and labor unions have formed the Coalition to Protect Workers’ Rights to oppose efforts to pass a new law—through either legislation or a voter initiative—that would exempt ride-hailing app drivers from any state effort to require gig workers to be considered employees.

Uber, facing litigation brought by the Massachusetts attorney general, has said it will use its ...