Massachusetts has become the first state to officially recognize a union for rideshare drivers, a historic step that challenges the federal classification of these workers as independent contractors. The Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations certified the App Driver's Union on Friday, paving the way for collective bargaining on wages and benefits.
Drivers gathered Tuesday outside the Statehouse in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood to celebrate the victory. Governor Maura Healey joined them, declaring they had “made history.” “It shows what’s possible when people come together, work together, and get it done,” Healey said. “You claimed your right, you claimed your union, and now you’re the first in the United States to be a unionized rideshare.”
The new union, backed by the 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, represents roughly 70,000 drivers in the state. According to the SEIU, this is the largest private-sector workforce to win union recognition since Ford Motor Company's autoworkers in 1941.
Uber driver Jean Fredo, speaking through a translator, said the union will ensure that “the money will not only stay in the billionaire’s pockets. The money will actually come to the workers who work very hard.”
How It Happened
Voters approved Question 3 in November 2024, which granted rideshare drivers the right to collectively bargain. The measure won endorsements from Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and Representatives Jim McGovern and Ayanna Pressley. Pre-election polling from the University of Massachusetts Amherst showed 58% support among likely voters.
Uber and Lyft have both pledged to work with the new union. Uber stated it 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.” Lyft communications director CJ Macklin added that the company is “committed to engaging in good faith” and focused on “helping drivers succeed while keeping rideshare affordable and dependable.”
The Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations has published information on the rights of unionized drivers on the state government’s website.
Broader Implications
This unionization effort could set a precedent for gig workers across the country, especially as states like California and New York consider similar legislation. The move also comes amid a broader push for labor rights in non-traditional workplaces, including the rise of AI fluency as a job requirement and debates over worker classification in the on-demand economy.
While the union is a major win for drivers, it also raises questions about the future of rideshare pricing and the balance between worker protections and consumer affordability. Lyft has indicated it will work to keep rides “affordable and dependable,” a challenge that will test the new bargaining framework.
