Rideshare drivers gathered Wednesday outside the Department of Labor in Boston to announce that they are ready to be formally recognized as a union, as soon as a new law goes into effect that makes Massachusetts the first state to allow Uber and Lyft drivers to join labor unions.
Representatives from the new group, dubbed the App Drivers Union, said that thousands of rideshare drivers across the state have signed cards expressing their desire to join. The union is being backed by 32BJ Service Employees International Union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, two of the largest labor groups in the country.
Mike Vartabedian, of the International Association of Machinists, said that he was confident that state officials will support implementation of the law as soon as possible.
“Drivers need their union to make sure that ride share jobs are sustainable, and that everyone who does this work can live and care for their families with dignity. At the end of the day, all workers need dignity and dignity should not be delayed,” he said.
Rideshare drivers were given the ability to unionize through the passage of Question 3 on the election ballot in November. Just under 54% of voters supported it. Proponents of the measure, which included Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Attorney General Andrea Campbell argued that drivers need immediate workplace protections. Other labor advocates, however, were more divided.
With the approval of Question 3, organizers needed to collect signatures from at least 25% of active drivers or those who have completed more than the median number of rides in the past six months. While they did not provide specific numbers, those affiliated with the union are confident that they have enough signatures to begin the process of forming a union. Lawmakers were planning to certify the ballot question Wednesday, and drivers will be able to vote on officially joining a union in January.
Massachusetts rideshare drivers have been advocating for a way to unionize for years, saying they need better pay and improved working conditions.
Read the full article: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2024/12/04/uber-lyft-drivers-announce-formation-of-new-app-drivers-union/
Published: Jan 13, 2025
