Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez meets with AB 5 protesters

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Out of work freelancers and critics of new gig worker bill Assembly Bill 5 protested Thursday outside Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez’s office.

AB 5 is the new law that requires independent and contract workers to be considered employees of a company, rather than independent workers.

It is causing a lot of backlash from ride-hailing drivers, computer coders, freelance writers, musicians and other gig workers.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher authored the bill, and recently came to KUSI to further explain and respond to critics.

Those affected gathered outside Gonzalez’s office Thursday, and some even got an opportunity to talk to the Assemblywoman face-to-face to voice their concerns.

KUSI’s Dan Plante spoke to some of these independent contractors, as well as Gonzalez herself.

RELATED STORY: Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher responds to Californians hurt by AB 5