California regulators certified a union representing Uber and Lyft drivers, marking a milestone in a years-long fight by gig workers in the state. <\/p>\n
The California Gig Workers Union will give drivers a seat at the table to negotiate pay, working conditions and benefits, union organizers said. California is the third state to allow ride-hailing drivers to unionize, following Washington in 2022 and Massachusetts in 2024. <\/p>\n
The California Public Employment Relations Board officially recognized the union Wednesday after it secured support<\/a> from 30% of active drivers in the state in August. <\/p>\n \u201cGetting a union is having a collective voice,\u201d said Harvin Melendez, an Uber driver in Los Angeles, in an interview. \u201cIt means finally we have a way to address all the issues, like payment and the poor benefits that I have.\u201d<\/p>\n The next step for the union is to negotiate a contract with Uber and Lyft that meets drivers\u2019 demands, including health insurance, support for high gas prices and more transparency around pay.<\/p>\n Tens of thousands of gig drivers have signed cards in support of the union, but the union did not say whether the cards signify official membership. The union couldn\u2019t say how many members have joined.<\/p>\n The California Gig Workers Union was formed with the support of the Service Employees International Union. The passage of Assembly Bill 1340<\/a> last year gave gig ride-hailing drivers the right to unionize<\/a> and collectively bargain.<\/p>\n \u201cFor years, rideshare companies have fallen short of giving drivers a meaningful say over their working conditions,\u201d Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, who co-authored the bill, said in a statement. \u201cAB 1340 provided the right to organize and today I\u2019m proud to see drivers putting that right to work.\u201d<\/p>\n Uber originally opposed AB 1340 but dropped its opposition<\/a> late last year after another bill passed that brought major insurance requirement reforms.<\/p>\n