Drivers for apps such as Uber and Lyft have unionized in Massachusetts, and will be represented by an organization that on Monday said it was the first officially recognized union in the United States to represent ride-share drivers.
In a news release, the organization, the App Drivers Union, said it would represent nearly 70,000 workers in Massachusetts who now have the power to collectively bargain.
The union can now begin contract negotiations with Uber and Lyft. Issues at the bargaining table will most likely include pay, driver safety and deactivation, which is when drivers lose access to an app.
Drivers for ride-share companies won the right to unionize in Massachusetts in November 2024 through a statewide ballot initiative. Voters backed the measure with 54 percent in support and 46 percent against. The ballot measure made it legal for ride-share drivers to organize and bargain as a collective, but did not automatically give drivers union representation.
Gov. Maura Healey called the certification a “historic moment” in an emailed statement. “Ride-share drivers are crucial members of our work force and our communities, and they deserve a real voice in shaping their wages, benefits and working conditions,” the governor said. She planned to celebrate the certification with labor leaders at the State House on Tuesday.
Uber said in a statement that it would work closely with the union, drivers and the state government. “Together, we will ensure that driver flexibility and hard-won benefits remain the foundation of our progress, while upholding the highest standards of safety, data security, transparency and public accountability,” the company said in a statement.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
