Massachusetts has certified the App Drivers Union as the first official bargaining representative for rideshare drivers in the United States, marking a major victory for gig economy workers seeking collective bargaining rights while maintaining independent contractor status.
Members of the App Drivers Union celebrated on Tuesday after Massachusetts became the first state to recognize their union, a milestone in the growing effort to organize gig-economy workers classified as independent contractors under federal labor law.
The victory could provide a model for similar campaigns gaining traction in states including California and Illinois, where labor organizers are increasingly targeting app-based industries as drivers also grapple with the rapid expansion of self-driving technology. As drivers waved signs and chanted with the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House providing a backdrop, labor leaders described the certification as the largest private-sector organizing win since Ford autoworkers unionized in 1941.
Jean Fredo, who has driven for Uber for more than seven years, said he hopes the union will bring better pay, stronger protections against sudden deactivations and more stability for drivers. With the union, it will not feel like we are working for nothing. Now the money will not only stay in the billionaire's pockets. The money will actually come to the workers who work very hard.
Uber and Lyft said they planned to work with the new bargaining framework as negotiations move forward. Uber said it would work with the union and regulators while preserving driver flexibility and hard-won benefits, while Lyft said it was committed to engaging in good faith and helping drivers succeed while keeping rideshare affordable and dependable for everyone who counts on it.
The certification became possible after the state's voters approved a 2024 ballot measure creating a first-in-the-nation framework allowing ride-hailing drivers to unionize and bargain collectively while remaining independent contractors-a model some business groups and legal scholars argue could face antitrust challenges under federal law. Organizers say the union will ultimately represent nearly 70,000 drivers statewide.
Without the support of the drivers, we wouldn't be here, said Victoria Acosta, a mother who drives for both Uber and Lyft, in Spanish through a translator. She said she hopes the victory inspires drivers in other states. Uber and Lyft drivers are generally classified as independent contractors rather than employees, meaning they are not covered by many traditional labor protections under federal law.
Drivers typically use their own vehicles, pay for expenses such as gas and maintenance themselves and can choose when and how long they work through the apps. Fredo said when he started driving for Uber he appreciated the flexibility and the ability to make his own schedule while still being present for his family. But over time, he found himself working longer hours while earning less as gas and maintenance costs climbed.
I live with stress-always scared to lose my app. This is not a way to live. This is my family, he said, holding up a photo of his four children. I'm fighting for a better life for them-just like everyone else is fighting for their families
Rideshare Union Gig Economy Massachusetts App Drivers Union Uber Lyft Collective Bargaining Independent Contractors Labor Rights
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