SACRAMENTO — California ride‑hailing drivers have reached a key threshold to form what organizers say will be the largest union of app‑based drivers in the world, a milestone that sets the stage for statewide bargaining with Uber, Lyft and other platforms.
The Public Employment Relations Board informed the newly organized California Gig Workers Union last week that at least 30% of active drivers had signed union cards — a level that allows the group to be certified as a representative for ride‑hail drivers across the state.
What organizers say they will demand
At a news conference in Los Angeles, drivers and leaders from the Service Employees International Union outlined several issues they plan to take to the negotiating table. They mentioned disputes over drivers being removed from apps, continuing concerns about low pay and the opaque role of companies’ algorithms in assigning rides and setting pay.
“Uber and Lyft systems silo and separate us drivers from each other, right? As we’ve been engaging in conversations with drivers all across the state … I’ve realized that I’m not on my own in my struggles.”
The quote came from Vikaas Shanker, a Fresno driver who identified himself as a leader of the new union. SEIU officials said they have been preparing drivers for collective bargaining and hope to begin talks with the companies by the end of the year.
Scope and scale
California currently has roughly 350,000 ride‑hail drivers, according to Riko Mendez, chief elected officer of SEIU Local 521 in San José. Union organizers say the statewide reach is significant because the companies generally treat drivers as independent contractors — a classification that typically does not include the right to bargain collectively.
California joins Massachusetts and, more recently, Illinois in legal frameworks allowing ride‑hail drivers to pursue union representation. Organizers contend the PERB certification marks a new phase in efforts to secure worker protections in the gig economy.
Practical implications for drivers and companies
If bargaining begins, drivers and platforms will face a wide array of practical questions. Organizers will need to demonstrate ongoing support among drivers, negotiate the scope of issues covered by a contract, and determine enforcement mechanisms. Companies will be asked to engage with a bargaining representative for a workforce they have long described as independent.
- Drivers seek protections against sudden deactivations and clearer rules about pay.
- Organizers want transparency about algorithms that assign trips and set compensation.
- Companies must decide whether to recognize a statewide bargaining unit and how to modify platform policies if agreements are reached.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Certification threshold | 30% of active drivers signed |
| Estimated drivers in CA | 350,000 |
| Target to begin bargaining | By the end of the year (organizers’ goal) |
SEIU leaders emphasized that organizing in a fragmented workforce — drivers who typically work independently and across multiple jurisdictions — has required sustained outreach. Mendez said the union has been preparing drivers for collective bargaining and indicated optimism about the union’s capacity to represent drivers statewide.
Broader legal and political context
The development comes amid ongoing national debates over how to classify gig workers. Treating drivers as employees would grant them access to wage protections and benefits but also could alter the business model that both riders and drivers have come to expect. For now, the certification pertains to drivers’ right to have a representative negotiate on their behalf while their contractor status remains under the companies’ classification frameworks.
California’s move follows similar legal openings in other states, and the outcome of bargaining could influence campaigns in other jurisdictions and future legislation addressing gig work.
Next steps and local impact
Organizers plan to translate the certification into concrete bargaining proposals. Drivers in cities across California — from Los Angeles to Fresno and the Bay Area — will be watching closely as talks begin. Any substantive changes to app policies, pay structures or deactivation procedures could ripple across city streets and impact riders as well as drivers.
For now, the announcement signals a new chapter in the relationship between ride‑hail platforms and the people who provide transportation services through them. The union and SEIU leaders have set an ambitious timeline; whether talks begin and whether they produce enforceable agreements will be the next major measure of how organizing in the gig economy can reshape work in California.
Kevin Nakamura, WE NEWS State Correspondent
