If you drive for Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash in California, you must have heard of AB5 a lot. It has been treated as a hot topic for so many years. And in 2026, more changes are being seen again. For you, that can mean your day-to-day routine is affected in so many small ways.
So let’s break down the concept.
What Is AB5?
AB5 is a California law that was passed in 2019. With it, new rules were set for how workers had to be classified. Before AB5, workers at gig companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash were called independent contractors. With that label, health insurance was not provided, and sick days were not included. To make matters worse, the paid time off was also not given. You get nothing. And if you have worked on those jobs, you have likely felt that gap.
AB5 said that wasn’t fair. It set up something called the “ABC test.” To call someone a contractor, a company needs to prove three things:
The worker is free from the company’s control
The work the person does is not the main thing the company does
The worker has their own independent business in that field
Uber and Lyft clearly failed that test. Their whole business is rides. DoorDash’s whole business is deliveries. The workers are the product. And that is pretty hard to argue with.
Then, Prop 22 Showed Up
AB5 was not accepted without a fight by big gig companies. Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash funded a ballot campaign with over $200 million. That amount can sound out of this world, and I know you may pause on it. Proposition 22 was passed in 2020. Then it was passed by California voters.
Prop 22 carved out a special exception. App-based drivers and delivery workers stayed independent contractors. But the companies had to offer a few basic things: a minimum earnings floor, some health care help, and accident coverage.
Many drivers felt it wasn’t enough. Some liked the flexibility. But it was, and still is, a split opinion.
What’s New in 2026
Here is where the story turns. AB 1340 was signed into law in California in late 2025. Then, in January 2026, union rights were given to around 800,000 rideshare and delivery drivers in California.
That’s huge. Drivers can now vote to form a union. The earliest that the vote could happen is May 2026. The Service Employees International Union has already started reaching out to drivers at airports and on social media.
Why Did Uber and Lyft Agree?
Good question. The rideshare companies actually dropped their opposition to AB 1340. But they got something in return. Senate Bill 371 cut the insurance they’re required to carry per incident from $1 million down to $300,000. That saves them serious money.
Lorena Gonzalez, who originally wrote AB5, said plainly that Uber needed something. She further went on to say that it was a trade-off and nothing more.
What This Means for Drivers in LA
If you are driving in Los Angeles right now, a short version can be given of what was changed:
You are still classed as an independent contractor under Prop 22
You are now given the right to unionize under AB 1340
A union vote can be held as early as May 2026
Better pay and conditions may be gained, but time is needed
The union process will not be finished overnight. Enough drivers need to be brought in. Names need to be signed. Votes need to be cast. But the door has now been opened. That is more than what was given two years ago.
Delivery drivers are included, too. DoorDash and similar apps work are covered under AB 1340 as well. So if food is being dropped off for a living by you, this law is meant for you, too. It is meant for me as well if I were doing the same job.
The Bigger Picture
AB5 started a fight that is still ongoing. Drivers still want flexibility. Fair pay and basic protections are also being requested. Those two things do not need to be treated as opposites. The 2026 updates will not be used to fix everything at once. But for the first time in a long stretch, some power is being placed at the table for drivers in LA.
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in the entire world, causing panic among individuals with its atrocity. Several cities in the US are facing the pandemic’s monstrosity, while different departments and officials are revamping their strategies to contain the outbreak.
Los Angeles suffered a similar faith when the pandemic took eleven more lives in April 2020. With this, COVID-19 has claimed 65 lives in the country, making it one of the most gruesome pandemics that the US has ever experienced.
Meanwhile, an official statement confirmed that the positive coronavirus cases had gone up to 3,518 since the pandemic began in 2019. The pandemic is on a rampage and has seen no boundaries when it comes to human lives.
Rich or poor, coronavirus has strangulated the lives of different individuals. The death toll in LA has seen many popular individuals, including a famous musician who succumbed to the lethal virus at the age of 52.
Safety Measures And Face Masks
Reacting to the unprecedented death toll, the LA mayor pursued a bold move to counter the pandemic at his routine press conference. Since Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the US, the mayor advised all the residents to wear face masks or something while going outside.
In the press conference, the mayor emphasized the importance of face masks as the first line of defense against the deadly coronavirus. In fact, the mayor took a black face mask and donned it in the press conference.
Since people do not wear face masks in public places, the mayor explained that it might look surreal or funny in the beginning but will benefit everyone in the long run. The mayor further elaborated that people will have to get used to wearing face masks and proclaimed that everyone must follow the look while going outside.
Furthermore, the mayor took the opportunity and explained that he wanted to set an example and lead the way in bringing change.
The mayor further stated, “Wearing face masks in public places and on the streets will help everyone, and that is the way everyone will see each other in the coming days.”
Although the mayor fumbled while wearing the black face mask, he insisted that wearing fabric masks would act as the first line of defense and keep residents from the deadly virus.
Dov Charney Reacted Swiftly.
While the LA mayor emphasized wearing face masks in public places, a well-known personality was listening closely to the press conference held at the City Hall. The apparel maker found this news exciting and took the opportunity to produce face masks that everyone would appreciate.
Who Is Dov Charney?
Dov Charney is the founder of American Apparel, who had to leave his iconic brand in 1989. He started a shop in South LA, naming it Los Angeles Apparel. Although Chrney had to leave his previous workplace, he accumulated a lot of respect and loyalty within his previous workplace.
Most of his former colleagues and workers joined his new venture, moving down from Central Avenue to South LA. Since Charney was a famous apparel maker in the US, he had clients from different quarters of life.
For instance, Charney joined hands with popular singer Kanye West and Laurence Chandler to produce a hoodie for the singer’s Yeezy collection. The news set the charts on fire as Charney got more popularity by collaborating with the famous singer and Rochambeau designer.
Singer Kanye West revealed that creating this hoodie is his dream quest, which he termed “the perfect hoodie” slated to enhance his Yeezy collection. Likewise, Charney had partnered with several other celebrities to produce various popular clothing lines.
Los Angeles Apparel’s Fabric Masks
Los Angeles Apparel has produced fabrics for different and popular brands over the years. One of the most significant achievements for Los Angeles Apparel began in its early days when the brand began producing fabric masks for FEMA.
The brand also launched its website and began selling its unique and exclusive designs on the website.
In a telephonic interview, Charney explained that Los Angeles Apparel has started witnessing the increasing requirement for face masks in the market. In fact, most of his employees use face masks while working, igniting the idea to produce face masks for everyone.
Charney further stated that he was working with an idea to produce face masks to suit everyone’s requirements. Once the brand gets everything right and figures out the right fit for everyone, Charney will roll out the face masks.
As the idea turned into reality, the brand had multiple designs available on its website. Customers can order their perfect fit and choose their preferred design or order a mask pack (3 units) for $30.
Charney further added that the brand has been giving away free face masks to the needy, so much that he is losing money while working on the venture.
Dov Charney On Free Mask Donation
As mentioned earlier, Dov Charney donated a lot of free masks to the public in order to curb the pandemic.
Charney further stated that he is donating a significant amount of the masks produced in his shop to the public. The apparel maker also elaborated that it was difficult to donate masks to the public as he had to spend money to make the masks.
In fact, the Canadian-born entrepreneur had invested a million dollars to procure equipment used for making masks. Furthermore, he had to adhere to various safety guidelines, like maintaining social distancing, producing high-quality masks, and conducting medical examinations on each worker to keep the factory virus-free.
Charney also stated that he has installed facial recognition technology in his factory to reduce shared surfaces, like punch clocks. This technology has allowed him to keep his employees safe and reduce touching surfaces to keep the factory safe from the deadly coronavirus.
However, Charney believed that donating masks to the public is a noble deed, and if there is more requirements in the future, he is ready to provide in the future.
Charney insisted that he didn’t want any COVID cases within his premises, which would have halted his team’s progress in producing high-quality face masks. Furthermore, the entrepreneur noted that everyone in his factory wears a mask (including himself), which allows them to keep everyone safe.
What Happened After The LA Mayor’s Announcement
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appears at a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing for his nomination to be Ambassador to the Republic of India on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Soon after the LA mayor announced the news, Charney began a live stream on his company’s Instagram account. He announced that his company would be hiring hundreds of employees to produce face masks to fulfill the swelling demand.
His announcement included opportunities for maintenance workers and individuals who knew about order packing. Charney also elaborated that he would offer handsome salaries to all the employees and offer additional packages for overtime hours.
However, Charney clarified his company does not guarantee that the masks produced by his company will be as good as the medical ones (N95 face masks). He further stated that people could not wear N95s for the whole day and that first responders should wear N95s.
The core idea behind his fabric masks is to prevent transmission, and if an infected person dons his mask, it will reduce the transmission rate to a great extent. Charney believed that protecting the ones who are not infected is very important and explained that infected individuals must wear fabric masks to protect others from the deadly virus.
Other Officials Comment On Face Masks.
Meanwhile, Sacremento’s officials cheered on residents for wearing masks and insisted that face masks play a vital role in preventing the spread of coronavirus.
The official further stated that individuals who wear face masks enhance the fight against this deadly virus and boost the functionality of other guidelines, such as social distancing and lockdown orders.
Furthermore, face masks act as a primary defense where social distancing is not possible, making it a beneficial and addictive move.
President Donald Trump also expressed his support for wearing masks in public. However, the US president stated that he preferred scarves over face masks as the former is thicker.
Charney’s Big Step
Charney’s move to produce face masks has made a significant impact in reducing the transmission rate. The Canadian-born entrepreneur believes that once his employees get the required training, his facility can produce around 300,000 masks per week.
Since Charney’s face masks are different, people could pair them with different outfits without compromising their style. Furthermore, these face masks will help individuals from infection and reduce transmission.
Although Charney had to put immense effort into making this project come to life, he believes that his work/life balance is at its best. In fact, Charney channeled his years of expertise in making garments into this project, which helped him make high-quality masks with trendy designs.
In fact, many industry experts termed this opportunity as Charney’s comeback into the mainstream, enhancing his reputation and financial success.
Charney hired hundreds of employees and produced high-quality masks for everyone. His designs and fabric quality rose to popularity in the short term, making him one of the top mask manufacturers in the US.
Charney believed that face masks will stay forever and the Western world will need new and improved face masks, even if the pandemic ends.
