Uber and Lyft Drivers in Massachusetts Win First U.S. Ride-Share Union Certification

Benzinga reported Tuesday that roughly 70,000 Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts have secured the country’s first officially state-recognized ride-share union. The Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations formally certified the newly established App Drivers Union on Friday. The milestone opens collective bargaining negotiations with both companies for the first time.

A New Seat at the Table for Gig Workers

The certification grants drivers the right to negotiate on pay, safety standards, and the conditions under which accounts can be deactivated. Those issues have long been flashpoints between platforms and their contracted workforces. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) welcomed the development on social media, calling it a historic victory for American labor. He urged both Uber (NYSE: UBER) and Lyft (NASDAQ: LYFT) to open contract talks immediately and deliver what he described as a living wage and dignity for drivers. Neither company responded to requests for comment before publication.

Also Read: What Gig Economy Labor Laws Mean for Platform Companies

Background: Years of Legal Battles Over Worker Classification

The road to this moment spans more than a decade of regulatory and political conflict. Massachusetts drivers first secured the right to unionize through a November 2024 ballot initiative. That measure granted gig workers collective bargaining power while preserving their independent contractor status. California followed in November 2025, when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation extending similar rights to drivers in that state. Comparable bills are currently working through the Illinois legislature. The debate has centered on whether platform workers should be classified as employees or contractors, a distinction with major implications for benefits and labor costs.

Also Read: California Gig Worker Union Law Signed by Newsom

Governors and Senators Align Behind the Movement

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey called the union certification a historic moment for the state’s workforce. She noted that ride-share drivers are embedded in communities across Massachusetts and deserve meaningful input over their earnings and working conditions. The convergence of gubernatorial support in two major states and vocal Senate backing from Sanders signals growing political momentum behind gig-worker organizing at both the state and federal levels.

Uber carries a Growth score ranked in the 97th percentile by Benzinga’s stock rankings, though its near-term price trend remains weak. Lyft holds a 99th-percentile Growth score with a stronger short-term price trend.

Read Next: What Collective Bargaining Could Cost Uber and Lyft Investors