Ah yes, the old "if we can't continue screwing you, you won't have a job!" argument.

This, at least, will only affect the California workers, right?

Strictly, this ruling affects one worker.

If it is appealed and eventually decided by a court whose decisions are binding precedent -- and the first stage appeal from the Labor Commissioner's ruling would be a state trial court, which is not such a court -- then it would have broader effect.

OTOH, its likely a guide to how the Labor Commission would rule on similar cases brought by other Uber drivers, so, in a sense it signals an effect in California, without having a direct effect on any other worker.

ISTR reading about a Florida decision that found the same thing with regard to Uber drivers, and IIRC there are a number of other labor complaints and lawsuits pending on similar grounds.

If the damages incurred are high enough, it effects uber as a whole. And so effects all their workers.

This ruling, yes. But there is a similar ruling in place in Florida and there may be a federal decision on the horizon IIRC.

If Uber is just going to take it's ball and go home like a spoiled child, then there was nothing of value lost.