70,000 Uber and Lyft Drivers Win Union Rights in Massachusetts

Seventy thousand Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts just won something gig workers have been fighting for across the country: the legal right to unionize and negotiate as a collective force.

The Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations officially certified the App Drivers Union in late May 2026, making it the first state-recognized union for ride-share workers in American history. Drivers can now sit down with Uber and Lyft to negotiate everything from pay rates to safety protections to the controversial deactivation policies that have left many workers without recourse.

The path to this moment started in November 2024, when Massachusetts voters passed a ballot measure giving gig workers collective bargaining power while maintaining their status as independent contractors. That unique approach solved a puzzle that has stumped lawmakers for years: how to give gig workers protections without reclassifying their entire employment status.

Governor Maura Healey called the certification "a historic moment" when announcing the news. "Ride-share drivers are crucial members of our workforce and our communities, and they deserve a real voice in shaping their wages, benefits and working conditions," she said.

Senator Bernie Sanders celebrated the victory on social media, calling on both companies to "immediately begin negotiating a fair first contract that delivers a living wage and the dignity these workers deserve." His statement highlighted what union organizers have been saying for years: that drivers who keep millions of people moving deserve stable, livable incomes.

The Ripple Effect

Massachusetts isn't alone in this movement. California passed similar legislation in November 2025 under Governor Gavin Newsom, and Illinois currently has comparable bills working through its legislature.

These wins could reshape the entire gig economy, which employs millions of Americans driving for ride-share apps, delivering food, and performing other contract work. If the Massachusetts model succeeds, it offers a roadmap for workers nationwide who want collective power without losing the flexibility that drew many to gig work in the first place.

The union's first negotiations with Uber and Lyft will test whether companies can maintain their business models while providing the wages and protections workers are demanding. But for now, 70,000 drivers have something they didn't have before: a seat at the table.