Uber and Lyft drivers form first US ride-share union
Massachusetts certified the first U.S. ride-share union for nearly 70,000 drivers. The move follows a 2024 ballot measure granting drivers bargaining rights.
Nearly 70,000 ride-share drivers operating as independent contractors in UBER TECHNOLOGIES INC and LYFT INC-A have formed the first officially recognized ride-share union in the United States. The App Drivers Union received certification on Friday from the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations to represent these drivers across the state. This milestone establishes a collective bargaining framework for gig workers that bypasses traditional federal labor restrictions.
### A New Framework for Gig Labor The certification follows a November 2024 ballot measure where voters approved a legal structure for ride-share organization. While the National Labor Relations Act excludes independent contractors from federal union protections, the Massachusetts law allows drivers to organize after securing signatures from 25% of active participants.
