California rideshare drivers reach threshold for union certification

Organizers of the California Gig Workers Union have announced they have met the necessary threshold of worker support to seek certification from the state’s Public Employment Relations Board. This milestone, expected to be finalized in early September, would allow the union to represent approximately 800,000 Uber and Lyft drivers in California for collective bargaining purposes.

The union is built upon a foundation of three Service Employees International Union (SEIU) locals. While the certification marks a significant victory in a years-long battle for worker rights involving state legislators and the governor’s office, organizers face the ongoing challenge of securing actual contracts. There are concerns regarding whether rideshare companies will engage in stalling tactics or other methods to avoid negotiating wages, job protections, and improved working conditions.