Uber Urges Court to Smother California ‘Frankenstein’ Labor Law

Uber Technologies Inc. wants to smother what the company calls California’s “Frankenstein” gig-worker protection law before state officials turn it loose.

Uber and Postmates Inc. are scheduled Friday to ask a federal judge in Los Angeles to block enforcement of the landmark law, Assembly Bill 5, that would convert gig-economy workers from independent contractors to employees with benefits. Uber says reclassifying workers that way would add 20% to 40% in labor costs for on-demand companies by making them restructure their business models.

California argues A.B. 5 will repair the erosion of the middle class and income inequality that gig companies ...