{"id":41603,"date":"2026-08-12T20:52:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41603"},"modified":"2026-08-12T20:52:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:52:36","slug":"hundreds-of-thousands-of-uber-and-lyft-drivers-could-unionize-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41603","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds of thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers could unionize in California"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2026%2F08%2F137178223.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Hundreds of thousands of <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/01\/us-news\/shocking-moment-tank-top-wearing-thug-batters-uber-driver-demands-he-drive\/\">Uber and Lyft drivers<\/a> across California are on the verge of joining what organizers say will become the largest rideshare drivers union in the world.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/aboutblaw.com\/bmv2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California Public Employment Relations Board<\/a> notified the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/07\/25\/business\/uber-lyft-win-major-ruling-in-california-that-treats-drivers-as-contractors\/\">California Gig Workers Union<\/a> (CGWU) on Aug. 7 that it had secured support from at least 30% of active rideshare drivers \u2014 the threshold required under a 2025 law to move forward with union representation.<\/p>\n<p>CGWU is expected to be certified as the exclusive bargaining representative for Uber and Lyft drivers statewide after a 30-day waiting period, <a href=\"https:\/\/cagigunion.org\/news\/2026\/08\/07\/california-gig-drivers-win-union-establish-largest-union-of-rideshare-drivers-in-the-world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to the union\u2019s announcement<\/a>. California has more than 800,000 registered drivers, with labor estimates putting the active workforce at roughly 350,000.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>SEIU 721 President David Green announces drivers are now able to form the California Gig Workers Union. (Mike Blake) <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The union effort stems from AB 1340, which created a collective-bargaining system for app-based rideshare drivers, who are <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/08\/21\/uber-lyft-drivers-win-in-californias-proposition-22-ruling\/\">generally classified as independent contractors<\/a> and lack traditional bargaining rights.<\/p>\n<p>The law followed more than a decade of organizing by drivers and the Service Employees International Union, which backed CGWU. After the law took effect, drivers began collecting union authorization cards in more than a dozen languages, through social media, texts, emails and in-person outreach.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s taken more than a decade to reach this moment, and every step of the way, gig drivers have built unstoppable momentum through their courage,\u201d David Green, president and executive director of SEIU 721, said in the announcement.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The union effort stems from AB 1340, which created a collective-bargaining system for app-based drivers. (Mike Blake) <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The drivers now want to take their <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/11\/06\/business\/massachusetts-becomes-first-state-to-allow-uber-lyft-drivers-to-unionize\/\">demands directly to the rideshare giants<\/a>, with pay, benefits, deactivation from the apps and working conditions expected to be among the major bargaining issues.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re so happy and proud to have finally won our union, and that we will get Uber and Lyft to the table so we can bargain with the gig companies for what we need: strong pay, adequate benefits, and dignified working conditions,\u201d Vikaas Shanker, a Fresno driver, <a href=\"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/newsletter\/gig-worker-union-milestone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told CalMatters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The CGWU has said drivers will not be charged dues until a collective-bargaining agreement is ratified. (Mike Blake) <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Some San Diego rideshare workers have raised concerns about potential union dues and whether the new organization will deliver enough benefits to justify the cost, according to KPBS.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/06\/27\/business\/uber-loses-challenge-to-california-gig-work-law-in-us-appeals-court\/\">California Gig Workers Union<\/a> has said drivers will not be charged dues until a collective-bargaining agreement is ratified.<\/p>\n<p>Margarita Penalosa, a Los Angeles Uber and Lyft driver who helped organize the effort, said drivers had spent years trying to gain a stronger voice over their work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe overcame fear, hundreds of millions of dollars spent by the gig companies to undermine our rights at the ballot and proved it\u2019s not the gig apps that connects us, it\u2019s our shared demand for fair pay and treatment as gig workers,\u201d Penalosa said in the union\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n<p>The certification process is expected to take another 30 days, after which CGWU would become the statewide bargaining representative if no competing organization qualifies to challenge it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs this new process moves forward, we\u2019re committed to engaging in good faith. Lyft does well when drivers do well, and we\u2019ll stay focused on helping drivers succeed while keeping rideshare affordable and dependable for everyone who counts on it,\u201d a spokesperson for Lyft told the California Post. <\/p>\n<p>Uber did not immediately respond to The California Post\u2019s requests for comment.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>California Post News<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCaliforniaPost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/californiapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@CaliforniaPost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TikTok<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/californiapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">X<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@thecaliforniapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029Vb6a2IV1NCrL6q2AWq0E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsApp<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/company\/californiapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><br \/><strong>California Post Sports<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/capostsports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/capostsports\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@capostsports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TikTok<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CaliforniaPostSports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/capostsports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">X<\/a><br \/><strong>California Post  <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/californiapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Opinion<\/a> <br \/><strong>California Post Newsletters<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/email.nypost.com\/#california-post\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sign up here!<\/a><br \/><strong>California Post App<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/california-post\/id6751343487\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download here!<\/a><br \/><strong>Home delivery<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.californiapost.com\/defaultCAP\">Sign up here!<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/california-post\/id6751343487\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/><\/a><strong>Page Six Hollywood<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/hollywood-signup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hundreds of thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers across California are on the verge of joining what organizers say will become the largest rideshare drivers union in the world. The California Public Employment Relations Board notified the California Gig Workers Union (CGWU) on Aug. 7 that it had secured support from at least 30% of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/137178223.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41603"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41603\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}