Rideshare drivers in Massachusetts formally unionize

App Drivers Union was formally certified to represent rideshare drivers in Massachusetts, claiming to be the first such officially recognized union in the United States. The union will represent nearly 70,000 workers and can begin contract negotiations with Uber and Lyft. Bargaining issues are expected to include pay, driver safety, and deactivation, when drivers lose access to an app. Rideshare drivers won the right to unionize in Massachusetts in November 2024 through a statewide ballot initiative that passed with 54% support. The measure made it legal for drivers to organize and bargain collectively, but did not automatically grant union representation. The governor called the certification historic, and Uber and Lyft said they would work with the union and state government.

"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 rideshare companies won the right to unionize in Massachusetts in November 2024 through a statewide ballot initiative. Voters backed the measure with 54% in support and 46% against. The ballot measure made it legal for rideshare 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 workforce 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 Statehouse on Tuesday."

"Uber said in a statement 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. Lyft said in a statement it was "committed to engaging in good faith," adding: "Lyft does well when drivers do well, and we'l"

Read at Boston.com