The ballot counting in the United States seemed to go on forever last week but one depressing election result was quickly known.

California voters supported Proposition 22, which exempts Uber, Lyft and other gig companies from new state labour laws that require them to treat their workers as employees eligible for benefits.

It’s a truly terrible outcome for gig workers in California and, quite possibly, everywhere else as well. This win will embolden Uber, Lyft and the like to push for concessions in other jurisdictions.