The state’s labor board certified the SEIU California Gig Workers Union (CGWU) on Wednesday, Sept. 9, establishing the largest union of rideshare drivers in the world. 

In August, the state verified that tens of thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers had signed cards in support of CGWU, surpassing a threshold under the law to certify the organization as the representative of drivers across the state. Following a 30-day required waiting period as required by AB 1340, the law granting gig drivers collective bargaining rights, the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) certified CGWU as the official representative of Uber and Lyft  rideshare drivers in California.

AB 1340 co-author Assemblymember Buffy Wicks said, “For years, rideshare companies have fallen short of giving drivers a meaningful say over their working conditions. AB 1340 provided the right to organize and today I’m proud to see drivers putting that right to work. I look forward to Uber and Lyft coming to the bargaining table in good faith, and working to reach a fair contract that recognizes the value drivers provide to their businesses.”

“Today hundreds of thousands of gig drivers have something they’ve been denied for far too long: power at the bargaining table. Their union is now recognized and that puts power in the hands of drivers who are the backbone of the gig economy,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman, co-author of AB 1340. “Uber and Lyft now have an opportunity to listen to the people who keep their industry running and work with CGWU to reach a fair contract.” 

Coming together in CGWU, rideshare drivers now plan to prepare for negotiations and engage drivers statewide to determine priorities for a union contract with Uber and Lyft. 

“Over the course of our organizing drive, and in conversations with thousands of drivers across the state, we’ve heard similar concerns time and time again,” said Ayana Sampier, a rideshare driver based out of California City. “Drivers have been seeing the companies take a greater share of the fare, while we shoulder all the costs and the risks. We deserve a fair deal and to be treated with respect.”

Drivers shouldn’t lose their livelihoods because Uber or Lyft made a decision behind a screen and won’t even give us a fair chance to respond,” said Gurpreet Pannu, a rideshare driver from Sacramento, speaking about gig corporations’ punitive removal of drivers from the app. “I’ve been driving since 2016. I’ve seen how this goes, there’s no real process, and half the time you can’t even get a person on the phone to hear your side of it. All we’re asking for is something fair: tell us why we lost our ability to make a living, let us talk to an actual human being, and give us a real chance to appeal.”

The victory comes after more than a decade of rideshare drivers organizing with SEIU to win a voice on the job, with SEIU locals 521, 721, and 1021 supporting gig drivers to build CGWU.

“Today is historic,” says Harvin Melendez, an Uber driver in Los Angeles. “We have officially established the California Gig Workers Union, and won the largest organizing victory in the United States in decades. There are hundreds of thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers across California, and we look forward to bargaining in good faith for a union contract. Together in our driver-led union, we will fight to finally win the just pay and working conditions that we deserve.” 

David Green, President and Executive Director of SEIU Local 721, added: “We are proud that we’ve finally reached this milestone after a decade of organizing rideshare drivers. All workers deserve dignity and respect. Rideshare drivers and SEIU members never gave up on winning a union that can fight for what drivers deserve. SEIU members will support California gig drivers all the way.” 

“This is a defining moment for Uber and Lyft drivers,” said Theresa Rutherford, President of SEIU 1021. “When the gig companies and technology shaping their work are changing so quickly, drivers have a union that gives them a real voice at the table and the power to protect their livelihoods.”

“Gig drivers shouldn’t have to face the future alone. As autonomous vehicles rapidly expand, having a union gives the drivers the power to negotiate for fair pay and meaningful say in how new technology shapes their work and our communities’ futures,” said Riko Mendez, SEIU 521 Chief Elected Officer.