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Hundreds of thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers across California are on the verge of joining what organizers say will become the largest rideshare drivers union in the world.The California Public Employment Relations Board notified the California Gig Workers Union (CGWU) on Aug.7 that it had secured support from at least 30% of active rideshare drivers — the threshold required under a 2025 law to move forward with union representation.CGWU is expected to be certified as the exclusive bargaining representative for Uber and Lyft drivers statewide after a 30-day waiting period, according to the union’s announcement.
California has more than 800,000 registered drivers, with labor estimates putting the active workforce at roughly 350,000.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.
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Never miss a story The union effort stems from AB 1340, which created a collective-bargaining system for app-based rideshare drivers, who are generally classified as independent contractors and lack traditional bargaining rights.The law followed more than a decade of organizing by drivers and the Service Employees International Union, which backed CGWU.After the law took effect, drivers began collecting union authorization cards in more than a dozen languages, through social media, texts, emails and in-person outreach.“It’s taken more than a decade to reach this moment, and every step of the way, gig drivers have built unstoppable momentum through their courage,” David Green, president and executive director of SEIU 721, said in the announcement.The drivers now want to take their demands directly to the rideshare giants, with pay, benefits, deactivation from the apps and working conditions expected to be among the major bargaining issues.“We’re so happy and proud to have finally won our u...