Wong questions Holden on workforce provisions

Yes, thank you, Chair.

Councilman Holden, I still call you Councilman.

Critics of this bill have argued it would destroy jobs.

And when I was getting my water, someone also told me the same thing.

As the original author of the workforce provisions in this legislation, what is your response to that argument?

Well, first of all, there's some lies out there.

Most of the drivers, the vast majority, are independent contractors.

That means they're not getting benefits.

I'd like to know, I've asked TWU, how many union members actually are drivers, real drivers, independent contractors?

How many are paying union dues, and what benefits do they get?

So right now, I would say, in just talking to some of the drivers, they don't get any benefits.

If they have city jobs, well-paying city jobs, they'll get health coverage, a pension, and they'll get other things that go along with regular jobs.

It's a big scam that's going on.

And if the TWU would just reveal how many dues-paying union members they have, we might get somewhere, but we won't get that.

I never got that in four years, over four years of actually trying to get some movement on this bill.

So there's not great paying jobs out there.

These are day workers or independent contractors.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Okay, Councilmember Gennaro.