California ride-share drivers are on the cusp of union certification, with state regulators confirming the nascent union has garnered sufficient support. This development marks a significant stride in the decade-long effort by drivers to gain a collective voice regarding their pay, working conditions, and benefits.
The California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) notified the California Gig Workers Union last week that it had secured backing from 30% of active ride-share drivers across the state. The union is expected to be officially certified following a 30-day waiting period, provided no other eligible organizations emerge. Vikaas Shanker, a ride-share driver from Fresno, stated, "We worked tirelessly to win this union, spending thousands of hours, calling, texting and meeting our fellow drivers all across the state. For too long, we have been without what we need to work and survive. Establishing our union is the first step toward change."
The California Gig Workers Union, formed with the support of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), is poised to benefit from Assembly Bill 1340, passed last year, which grants gig ride-share drivers the right to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. Uber, initially opposed to AB 1340, withdrew its objection late last year after the passage of separate legislation enacting significant insurance reforms. Ramona Prieto, Uber's Western U.S. head of public policy and communications, commented, "PERB’s certification is the next step in delivering on AB 1340, a historic compromise that gives drivers a pathway to representation while preserving the independence and flexibility they’ve consistently said they value most. We look forward to our work ahead with the California Gig Workers Union and the state."
California becomes the second state to permit ride-share drivers to unionize, following Massachusetts, where the App Drivers Union was certified in May to represent approximately 70,000 Uber and Lyft drivers. Illinois has also recently passed legislation enabling drivers to organize officially. This progress contrasts with the 2020 outcome in California, where Proposition 22 allowed app-based companies to continue classifying drivers as independent contractors, thereby exempting them from state regulations concerning minimum wage and health insurance.
CJ Macklin, Lyft's communications director, stated, "As this new process moves forward, we’re committed to engaging in good faith. Lyft does well when drivers do well, and we’ll stay focused on helping drivers succeed while keeping rideshare affordable and dependable for everyone who counts on it." According to SEIU Local 521, California is home to around 350,000 ride-hailing drivers. Riko Mendez, SEIU 521 Chief Elected Officer, added, "A union for gig drivers isn’t just about improving pay and working conditions at the bargaining table, it’s also about making sure that gig drivers have a voice in every decision that impacts their livelihoods. Gig drivers deserve a seat at the table." The California Gig Workers Union aims to commence bargaining by year's end.
