Massachusetts certifies first state-wide ride-hailing union

Drivers for ride-hailing platforms Uber and Lyft in Massachusetts have formed the first state-certified union of its kind in the United States. The newly recognized App Drivers Union will represent approximately 70,000 drivers across the state, marking a significant milestone in efforts to organize gig economy workers.

The union's certification, granted by the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations, became possible after voters approved a 2024 ballot measure. That measure created a legal framework allowing ride-hailing drivers to unionize and bargain collectively while maintaining their status as independent contractors. Under the state law, union supporters were required to collect signatures from at least 25 percent of active drivers to gain certification, a threshold they exceeded.

At a rally outside the Massachusetts State House, Governor Maura Healey called the development a historic day for the state and the country. Labor leaders described it as the largest private-sector union organizing victory since Ford autoworkers unionized in 1941.

Drivers cited concerns over pay, working conditions, and job security as primary motivations for organizing. Jean Fredo, a driver...