California Rideshare Drivers' Union Cleared for Certification Within 30 Days

California's Public Employment Relations Board confirmed last week that the California Gig Workers Union secured support from 30% of the state's active rideshare drivers, clearing the organization for certification after a 30-day waiting period, according to the Los Angeles Times. The certification would establish the first statewide union for Uber and Lyft drivers in California, covering roughly 350,000 workers.

Union Secures Support Threshold After Yearlong Campaign

The California Gig Workers Union, formed with backing from the Service Employees International Union, spent thousands of hours contacting drivers across the state to reach the 30% support threshold required under Assembly Bill 1340. The legislation, signed into law in October 2025, granted rideshare drivers collective bargaining rights while maintaining their classification as independent contractors rather than employees.

"We worked tirelessly to win this union, spending thousands of hours, calling, texting and meeting our fellow drivers all across the state," said Vikaas Shanker, a Fresno-based rideshare driver, in a statement released by the union. "For too long, we have been without what we need to work and survive."

The Public Employment Relations Board notified the union of its qualification during the week of August 8. Unless another qualifying labor organization emerges during the 30-day waiting period, the California Gig Workers Union will be formally certified to represent drivers in collective bargaining negotiations with Uber and Lyft.

Platform Companies Signal Willingness to Negotiate

Uber, which initially opposed AB 1340, reversed its position in late 2025 following the passage of separate insurance reform legislation that addressed the company's regulatory concerns. The company's Western U.S. head of public policy and communications, Ramona Prieto, described the certification as "the next step in delivering on AB 1340, a historic compromise that gives drivers a pathway to representation while preserving the independence and flexibility they've consistently said they value most."

Lyft issued a similar statement through communications director CJ Macklin, committing to "engaging in good faith" as the bargaining process moves forward. Both companies maintain that drivers benefit from their independent contractor status, which allows flexible scheduling but exempts the platforms from providing traditional employee benefits such as health insurance and guaranteed minimum wage.

The union's certification follows similar organizing victories in other states. Massachusetts certified the App Drivers Union in May 2024 to represent approximately 70,000 Uber and Lyft drivers, making it the first state to establish formal rideshare driver representation. Illinois passed enabling legislation earlier this year, though no union has yet been certified in that state.

Proposition 22 Framework Shapes Bargaining Context

California rideshare drivers have operated under Proposition 22 since voters approved the measure in November 2020. The ballot initiative allows app-based companies to classify drivers as independent contractors, exempting the platforms from state employee regulations around health insurance, overtime pay, and minimum wage guarantees. AB 1340 worked within that framework by creating a bargaining structure that does not change drivers' employment classification.

Riko Mendez, chief elected officer of SEIU Local 521, said the union certification extends beyond traditional wage and benefit negotiations. "A union for gig drivers… is also about making sure that gig drivers have a voice in every decision that impacts their livelihoods," Mendez said in a statement.

The California Gig Workers Union has indicated it hopes to begin formal bargaining sessions with Uber and Lyft before the end of 2026, according to CalMatters. Topics likely to be addressed include pay transparency, deactivation procedures, and access to vehicle maintenance support.

Gig worker organizing efforts have accelerated globally in recent years. Australia's Fair Work Commission established minimum pay standards for delivery drivers in 2024, while New Jersey finalized strict worker classification rules earlier this year that could force rideshare platforms to reclassify drivers as employees. California's approach through AB 1340 represents a distinct middle path, granting collective bargaining rights without reclassification.

What Happens Next

The 30-day waiting period runs through mid-September 2026, after which the Public Employment Relations Board will issue formal certification unless another labor organization files a competing petition. Once certified, the California Gig Workers Union will have legal standing to demand bargaining sessions with Uber and Lyft on behalf of the state's 350,000 rideshare drivers.

The union's first bargaining priorities have not been publicly detailed, but organizers have emphasized pay transparency and driver protections against arbitrary deactivation. Unlike traditional labor negotiations, the AB 1340 framework does not include strike authorization or traditional work stoppage mechanisms, a compromise that secured the legislation's passage despite initial platform company opposition.

The certification establishes California as the second state with a formally recognized rideshare driver union, following Massachusetts by roughly 16 months. How the bargaining process unfolds will likely influence similar efforts in Illinois and other states considering gig worker organizing legislation.