News: 0185630618

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California's Gig Drivers Just Secured Collective Bargaining Power with Newly Certified Union (sacbee.com)

(Sunday September 13, 2026 @01:34PM (EditorDavid) from the driving-forward dept.)


A union representing Uber and Lyft drivers was just [1]certified by California's Public Employment Relations Board, officially recognizing them as the drivers' bargaining organization.

The Sacramento Bee reports that this new bargaining structure :

> The move will allow the California Gig Workers Union to help drivers negotiate issues affecting working conditions and benefits. It comes as at least 30% of active drivers expressed support of the union... [California] [2]Assembly Bill 1340 helped bring the union to fruition by allowing the independent contractor drivers to engage in collective bargaining.

"The next step for the union is to negotiate a contract with Uber and Lyft that meets drivers' demands," [3]reports the Los Angeles Times , "including health insurance, support for high gas prices and more transparency around pay:

> California is the third state to allow ride-hailing drivers to unionize, following Washington in 2022 and Massachusetts in 2024...

>

> The California Gig Workers Union was formed with the support of the Service Employees International Union... "Gig drivers shouldn't have to face the future alone," said SEIU 521 official Riko Mendez in a statement. "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."



[1] https://www.perb.ca.gov/tnc-act/

[2] https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article311902287.html

[3] https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/california-clears-way-uber-lyft-014135482.html



I wonder how long till the CIA (Score:1, Informative)

by rsilvergun ( 571051 )

Shows up the break them up... Or at least the pinkertons. Fun fact the Pinkerton detective agency still exists and they are still union busting.

Gloria Steinem died recently. I never paid her much mind I knew the right wing had a giant hissy fit about her all the time. But it turns out the left wing didn't like her either. She was a CIA plant. Like you can do some googling and discover that it's real.

Basically the labor movement and the feminist movement were cross-pollinating so the CIA recruited pe

Re:I wonder how long till the CIA (Score:5, Funny)

by superdave80 ( 1226592 )

> I found this out when I read a few comments sections

Well then it must be true!

Re: (Score:1)

by rsilvergun ( 571051 )

The part that pisses me off is that the company responsible for the shoddy work flat-out admitted it was their shoddy work. Of course they didn't do this until they were at risk of being under oath but you know how that goes...

And the part that pisses me off is that anyone who pays any attention to Trump has to know or has to at least easily be able to find out that he is constantly lying to them in the most obvious ways imaginable implying he has the lowest opinion of them possible and they still love

Re: (Score:1)

by rsilvergun ( 571051 )

So this may sound insane but you can actually use the internet for something besides getting angry. You can do a little bit of googling and pretty easily confirm what I said.

The point of my comment was I was not aware that Gloria Steinem was a CIA asset at all. Of course no I did not take a handful of Internet comments at face value. But I found it striking enough to be worth doing a little bit more reading.

That's how critical thinking works. You get a new piece of information and you decide if it's

Re: I wonder how long till the CIA (Score:2)

by reanjr ( 588767 )

Not necessary. They will find their demands lead to such high prices that they either have to back off on their demands or let the industry (and their job) die.

Re: (Score:1, Informative)

by rsilvergun ( 571051 )

People still need cabs. Also Uber is a highly profitable company.

On the other hand if the only way we can have a transportation system is borderline slave labor then you might have a point. But they're not going to curl up and die what's actually going to happen is that the need for cabs is still there the prices are going to shoot up and people are going to have to pay it. Yeah you might have fewer people using them for convenience but when you need to get to the airport you need to get to the airport.

Re: (Score:2)

by DrMrLordX ( 559371 )

Uber lost money for years and only recently became profitable. They can easily go back into the red.

Are you gig drivers voting DSA? (Score:1)

by oumuamua ( 6173784 )

This union victory will be short-lived. I hope you see the writing on the wall - your jobs are being automated away. You no doubt see the self driving taxis while you drive around. A lot of you became drivers after failing to find work in another preferred field. Vote Democratic Socialist now, after you lose your job is too late.

Re: Are you gig drivers voting DSA? (Score:1, Troll)

by reanjr ( 588767 )

What I'm hearing is: "Vote DSA! We won't let progress stand in the way of a menial job!"

Re: (Score:2)

by ArchieBunker ( 132337 )

I could see a point where the option for a human driver would cost more.

Just stop ... (Score:2)

by PPH ( 736903 )

... referring to them as [1]gig workers. [wikipedia.org] They are employees, with all of the concomitant benefits and payroll deductions. And soon, they will be subject to union fees, and the other perks of representation. Including calls for daily workers at the union hall. You thought it was tough, having to wait for [2]Mr. Friendly [wikipedia.org] to pick you out for a crew. Now it will be a faceless app on your phone.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gig_worker

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Waterfront

Re: (Score:2)

by smoot123 ( 1027084 )

> They are employees, with all of the concomitant benefits and payroll deductions.

That's what the unions and CA Democratic party want.

Thing is, you poll the actual drivers, most like the flexibility of being able to schedule their own shifts and set their own hours. They like that it's gig work.

Re: (Score:3)

by ArchieBunker ( 132337 )

Why not both?

Re: (Score:2)

by thesjaakspoiler ( 4782965 )

Can't rake in them fat profits without treating them as throw-away GIG workers.

Any ide what a CEO must make these days?

Re: (Score:1)

by kenh ( 9056 )

They may be "regular" employees, but the employers have nothing really holding them in state - no investment in dispatchers, vehicles, mechanics, etc. I can easily see the ride share operators having much, much more leverage over the drivers than the drivers will likely have over their employers.

Steel workers have leverage over the steel mills because they cant just relocate the steel mills, but these virtual, zero infrastructure employers can just shutdown once the workers get appropriate notice.

Great for some, bad for others (Score:3)

by Slashythenkilly ( 7027842 )

This would have been great for the guys starting out when Uber and Lyft were dropping their percentages and basically forcing full time drivers to sleep in their cars with little left after taxes, insurance, gas, and maintainence. When these companies got behind automated technology like Waymo, it was just a matter of time.

Re: (Score:3)

by bill_mcgonigle ( 4333 ) *

Around 2029 we'll see that a ride is available for $16 or $31 with a driver.

Rider's choice. I'll guess it goes about 80/20.

If they could, they would (Score:2)

by Somervillain ( 4719341 )

> This would have been great for the guys starting out when Uber and Lyft were dropping their percentages and basically forcing full time drivers to sleep in their cars with little left after taxes, insurance, gas, and maintainence. When these companies got behind automated technology like Waymo, it was just a matter of time.

So you're seriously stating that these LARGE tech companies are using human beings and not self-driving cars because humans are more affordable? FUCK RIGHT OFF, with your bullshit shilling. They hire all these human beings because automation can't do the job. If they could, they would roll it out widely. Tech companies are heavily financed and whoever solves self-driving cars will make a MASSIVE fortune. Yeah, there are limited pilot programs, probably with remote operators at this point. (there are m

Re: (Score:2)

by Slashythenkilly ( 7027842 )

Calm down satan. I have a right to my opinion and you to yours.

Re: (Score:2)

by DrMrLordX ( 559371 )

Newsome might not even run.

Cost... (Score:3)

by GotNoRice ( 7207988 )

We already had Taxis. They've been around since before cars themselves. Taxis became ludicrously expensive due to fees and over-regulation. The only reason anyone cares about Uber or Lyft is because they offer CHEAPER RIDES. Repeating the same mistakes that largely destroyed the traditional Taxi business isn't going to help anyone.

Re: (Score:1)

by kenh ( 9056 )

> We already had Taxis. They've been around since before cars themselves. Taxis became ludicrously expensive due to fees and over-regulation. The only reason anyone cares about Uber or Lyft is because they offer CHEAPER RIDES. Repeating the same mistakes that largely destroyed the traditional Taxi business isn't going to help anyone.

A huge appeal for ride share over taxis is that the cars showed up quickly when summoned because there were so many "drivers" just waiting for a ride...

Sunk Cost (Score:1)

by kenh ( 9056 )

> "The next step for the union is to negotiate a contract with Uber and Lyft that meets drivers' demands," reports the Los Angeles Times, "including health insurance, support for high gas prices and more transparency around pay

Good luck with that - the ride-share operators have zero investment in California, so if they cant negotiate a contract the operators are happy with they can just leave the state.

I wonder what protections the gig workers have if a Lyft or an Uber decides to leave the CA market, do they have to give certain notice?

I don't think this is really going to turn into the victory the drivers think this is...

Only 30%? (Score:2, Insightful)

by smoot123 ( 1027084 )

So, that means that 70% of drivers didn't express any interest in union representation. That means a minority of drivers are forcing their preference on the majority. Seems unjust to me.

If drivers had an option to join the union or directly work with the company, that would be a different kettle of fish. But they won't, their choice will forcibly taken away from them.

I find it hypocritical. Progressives in this state hate monopolies, unless its a labor monopoly which shovels huge amounts of cash to the Demo

My band career ended late in my senior year when John Cooper and I threw my
amplifier out the dormitory window. We did not act in haste. First we
checked to make sure the amplifier would fit through the frame, using the
belt from my bathrobe to measure, then we picked up the amplifier and backed
up to my bedroom door. Then we rushed forward, shouting "The WHO! The
WHO!" and we launched my amplifier perfectly, as though we had been doing it
all our lives, clean through the window and down onto the sidewalk, where a
small but appreciative crowd had gathered. I would like to be able to say
that this was a symbolic act, an effort on my part to break cleanly away
from one state in my life and move on to another, but the truth is, Cooper
and I really just wanted to find out what it would sound like. It sounded
OK.
-- Dave Barry, "The Snake"