California rideshare drivers secured the latest victory in their decade-long fight for a voice in improving their work conditions and shaping their industry today as legislation championed by drivers received overwhelming support in the Senate’s Committee on Labor. AB 1340 (Wicks, Berman) will give California’s more than 800,000 rideshare drivers the opportunity to form a union and negotiate with corporations like Uber and Lyft over their pay and working conditions.

“We’re fed up with empty promises – with ride share companies selling us a dream and serving us a nightmare. Even as fares for each ride are going up for riders, my pay keeps shrinking; only with a strong voice on the job can we keep rideshare accessible and ensure drivers can keep our heads above water,” said Jesus Guerrero, rideshare driver from Los Angeles.

“Right now company CEOs are living the dream by exploiting riders and drivers both. Currently, these apps can deactivate us for small infractions and give us no opportunity for recourse – taking away 30% of our income without even offering an explanation and leaving riders waiting longer and longer for rides. Only with a union will we be able to hold companies like Uber and Lyft accountable. We are grateful that Senators in the Labor committee listened to our stories and stood with us, now we are pushing the full Senate to agree,” said Janice Jackson, who has been driving for Uber for almost 10 years.

Every day, millions of Californians turn to ride share to get to work, the airport, and doctors’ appointments. More than 800,000 drivers make sure that when someone opens their app, a ride is available. But forming a union is the only path for these drivers to improve their working conditions under a misleading ballot measure that rideshare companies spent hundreds of millions of dollars to pass. AB 1340 would not only give drivers a choice to form a union and fight for improved pay and working conditions, but protect drivers from retaliation for organizing. Rideshare drivers say a union would be good for drivers and riders alike; with a union, drivers will have the ability to sit down at the bargaining table with companies to demand greater transparency in fares for drivers and riders. Today, riders have no idea what share of their dollars actually make it to drivers.

A union formed under AB 1340 would have the power to sit down with corporations like Uber and Lyft to address:
Fair compensation, including ensuring drivers actually receive tips made in app
“Robo-firings” in which drivers are deactivated by algorithm, without recourse or a meaningful way to regain their livelihoods
Riders are paying higher prices but that doesn’t translate into higher pay for drivers. Instead many drivers report a decrease in their share of passenger fares

AB 1340 now moves to the Senate Transportation Committee for a vote, and if passed, to a floor vote by the Senate.