Massachusetts Uber, Lyft drivers certify first statewide ride-hailing union amid automation fears

BOSTON (AP) — Drivers for ride-hailing apps: Uber and Lyft in Massachusetts became the first company in the country to approve a union on Tuesday; This marked a turning point in growing efforts to organize gig economy workers amid ongoing concerns about wages, expenses and working conditions.

The victory could serve as a model for similar campaigns gaining traction in states such as California and Illinois; Here, labor organizers are increasingly targeting app-based industries, while drivers are also grappling with the rapid expansion of mobile apps. self driving technology.

As drivers waved signs and chanted slogans with the golden dome of the Massachusetts State Capitol in the background, labor leaders described the victory as the biggest organizing victory in the private sector since Ford auto workers unionized in 1941.

Jean Fredo, who has driven for Uber for more than seven years, said he hopes the union will bring better pay, stronger protections against sudden closures and more stability for drivers.

“We won’t feel like we’re working with the union for nothing,” he said in French through a translator. “The money will no longer just be in the billionaire’s pocket. The money will actually come to hard-working workers, too.”

The certification was made possible when voters in the state approved a 2024 election law that created a first-in-the-nation framework that allows ride-hailing drivers to unionize and bargain collectively while remaining independent contractors. Organizers say the union could ultimately represent about 70,000 drivers statewide.

Driver Alfred Potter said a few days ago that the App Drivers Association “is still nothing but a dream – a bullseye that app companies keep moving until they can’t move anymore.”

Victoria Acosta, a mother who drives for both Uber and Lyft, said organizers spent months knocking on doors, testifying at hearings and talking to hundreds of other drivers to build support for the union effort.

“We wouldn’t be here without the support of the drivers,” Acosta said in Spanish through a translator.

He said he hoped the victory would inspire drivers in other states.

“If we did it, they can do it too,” he said.

Fredo said that when he started driving for Uber, he appreciated the flexibility and ability to make his own schedule while being around his family. But over time, he said, he worked longer hours while earning less as fuel and maintenance costs rose.

Drivers may also lose access to apps with little warning or opportunity to appeal, he said.

“I live with stress; I’m always afraid of losing my practice,” Fredo said. “This is no way to live.”

Fredo said he immediately got involved when he heard about this and later helped register hundreds more drivers at airports and rally points in the Boston area.

At one point during the rally, Fredo raised his fists above his head while showing the crowd a photo of his four children.

“This is my family,” he said. “Just like everyone fights for their families, I fight for a better life for them. My dream is to save my children and send them to university, and I believe we will get there.”

Supporters say rising vehicle costs, fluctuating fares and opaque enforcement algorithms have increased frustration among drivers who often work long hours while paying for fuel, insurance, maintenance and vehicle wear and tear themselves. Uber and Lyft have argued that drivers value the flexibility of app-based work and have opposed efforts that could reclassify workers or change the industry’s business model.

The organizing effort comes amid the rapid expansion of autonomous vehicle technology. In Massachusetts, autonomous vehicles can be tested on public roads, but current regulations still require a licensed human operator to be inside the vehicle. Fully driverless commercial operations without a human in the car are not allowed statewide.

Waymo has expanded its driverless taxi operations in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix. While the practice has led to scrutiny over traffic disruptions, safety investigations and incidents involving stalled or broken down vehicles, it has also raised concerns among some ride-hailing drivers about the future of their business.

Julie Blust of the App Drivers Association said drivers across the country regularly communicate with each other about changing conditions in the industry, including the proliferation of autonomous vehicles in California.

“We now know what’s going on there,” he said. “Drivers are seeing their wages fall and as automated vehicles become more widespread there are real concerns about safety and security.”

He said organizers increasingly see unionization as a way for drivers to collectively respond to the growth of autonomous vehicle companies.

“Drivers now have a formal organization and can speak with one voice about what is happening in this industry,” Blust said. “We can’t let billions of dollars leave Massachusetts and go to Silicon Valley. This money feeds people’s families, this money pays the rent. This money goes to small businesses.”

The bargaining process is also evolving as Massachusetts regulators consider sweeping new ride-hailing regulations this spring that include proposals involving safety standards, driver oversight and electric vehicle fleets. Uber issued a warning ahead of union certification: blog post While some of the proposals could increase costs and reduce drivers’ flexibility, supporters said the changes were aimed at strengthening safety and accountability.

In an emailed statement Tuesday, Uber said it would work with the union and state regulators as the bargaining process progresses.

“As we enter this next phase, we will work closely with ADU, our broader driver community and the Department of Labor Relations,” the company said. “Together, we will ensure driver flexibility and hard-earned benefits remain the foundation of our progress.”

Lyft also said it plans to participate in the new bargaining process.

“We are committed to acting in good faith as this new process moves forward,” the company said in a statement. “When drivers are successful, Lyft is successful, and we will continue to focus on helping drivers succeed while keeping ridesharing affordable and reliable for everyone who relies on it.”