Massachusetts ride-hail drivers certify first U.S. union

Massachusetts ride-hail – Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts became the first ride-hailing workers in the United States to certify a union, after voters approved a 2024 ballot measure that created a framework for ride-hailing drivers to unionize while staying independent contractor

For the first time in the country, ride-hailing drivers in Massachusetts stepped into the spotlight with union certification in hand—standing under the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House as signs bobbed and chants rose around them.

Tuesday’s milestone came for drivers working for apps such as Uber and Lyft, and it lands at a tense moment for gig workers nationwide: rising costs, fluctuating earnings, and the risk of sudden deactivation are colliding with rapid progress in autonomous vehicle technology.

The certification became possible because Massachusetts voters approved a 2024 ballot measure. That measure created a first-in-the-nation framework allowing ride-hailing drivers to unionize and bargain collectively while remaining independent contractors. Organizers said the union could ultimately represent nearly 70,000 drivers statewide.

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. Speaking in French through a translator. Fredo said. “With the union. it will not feel like we’re 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.”.

Fredo described how the job had felt different when he started—he appreciated flexibility and the ability to make his own schedule while still being present for his family. Over time, he said, that flexibility came with longer hours and less money as gas and maintenance costs climbed.

He also said losing access to the apps can happen with little warning or recourse. “I live with stress—always scared to lose my app,” Fredo said. “This is not a way to live.”

Fredo said he joined the organizing effort immediately after hearing about it. and later helped sign up hundreds of other drivers at airports and gathering spots around the Boston area. At one point during the rally. he pumped his fists overhead while holding up a photo of his family to the crowd. “This is my family,” Fredo said. “I’m fighting for a better life for them—just like everyone else is fighting for their families. My dream is to save and send my kids to college, and I believe we will get there.”.

A labor fight shadowed by automation fears

The organizing push has been powered by frustrations drivers describe as spreading across app-based work: rising vehicle costs; pay that can fluctuate; and what many drivers view as opaque app algorithms. Supporters say those pressures leave drivers working long hours while paying for gas, insurance, maintenance, and vehicle wear-and-tear themselves.

Uber and Lyft have argued drivers value app-based flexibility and have opposed efforts that could reclassify workers or alter the industry’s business model.

In Massachusetts, the union campaign is unfolding as autonomous vehicle technology expands quickly across the country. Autonomous vehicles can be tested on public roads in Massachusetts. but current regulations require a licensed human operator inside the vehicle. Fully driverless commercial rides without a human operator are not currently permitted statewide.

Elsewhere, the pace has been faster. Waymo has expanded driverless taxi operations in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. That rollout has drawn scrutiny over traffic disruptions. safety investigations. and incidents involving stalled or malfunctioning vehicles—while increasing anxiety among some ride-hailing drivers about job security.

Julie Blust of the App Drivers Union said drivers across the country regularly share information about changing conditions. including developments in California where automatic vehicles are expanding. “We now know what’s happening there,” she said. “Drivers are seeing pay go down, and there are real concerns about safety and job security as automatic vehicles expand.”.

Organizers see unionization as a way for drivers to collectively respond to the growth of autonomous vehicle companies, Blust said. “Drivers now have an official organization and can speak with one voice about what’s happening in this industry. ” she said. “We cannot let billions of dollars leave Massachusetts and go to Silicon Valley. That money feeds people’s families, that money pays the rent. That money goes into small businesses.”.

The bargaining process and the companies’ stance

The union certification is also entering a period where Massachusetts regulators are weighing new ride-hailing rules. The proposals, outlined this spring, include safety standards, driver oversight, and proposals involving electric vehicle fleets.

Days before the union certification, Uber warned in a blog post that some of the proposals could raise costs and reduce flexibility for drivers, while supporters said the changes are intended to strengthen safety and accountability.

In an emailed statement Tuesday, Uber said it would work with the union and state regulators as bargaining moves forward. “As we enter this next phase. we will work closely with the ADU. our broader driver community. and the Department of Labor Relations. ” the company said. “Together, we will ensure that driver flexibility and hard-won benefits remain the foundation of our progress.”.

Lyft also said it planned to engage with the new bargaining process. “As this new process moves forward, we’re committed to engaging in good faith,” the company said in a statement. “Lyft does well when drivers do well. and we’ll stay focused on helping drivers succeed while keeping ride-share affordable and dependable for everyone who counts on it.”.

For drivers in Massachusetts, the certified union marks more than a legal step. It arrives with a clear message from the rally crowd: a demand that the rules governing app work—whether about pay. safety. deactivations. or the pace of automation—no longer be set without drivers having a seat at the table.

Uber Lyft ride-hailing union Massachusetts gig economy independent contractors collective bargaining App Drivers Union autonomous vehicles ADU Department of Labor Relations Waymo