Who says that rallying doesn’t have an impact? Ridesharing drivers’ unions are worker-led organizations that advocate for better driver protections. Since these ridesharing drivers are typically classified as independent contractors instead of traditional employees, the benefits they get are limited. Thus, having a union in your locality has its benefits. However, most of these unions are not legal under the law.
Previously on Ridesharing Forum, you’ve heard of the state of Massachusetts becoming the first to recognize unions for Lyft and Uber drivers.
Now, the legalization of unions in another state, Illinois may follow suit.
There is now a proposal that would allow Lyft and Uber drivers to form sector-wide unions and participate in collective bargaining. The legislation was passed over the weekend. This makes Illinois one of the only three states to push forward such an ordeal.
“I represent a district that actually has the largest number of rideshare drivers out of any Senate district in the state, so this was truly an issue that came to me from constituents that were facing challenges with the wages and the vehicle costs and working conditions,” Democrat Illinois Senator Ram Villivalam, who advocated for the legislation after being stalled several times, stated.
The Illinois Drivers Alliance, of course, supported the senator, saying that it will offer nearly 100,000 regularly-working drivers the capability to be covered under collective bargaining.
If signed and ratified, the law will require every ridesharing app or company to invest money into a Rideshare Workers Support Fund, administered by the state secretary.
Also, consumers should not be pressured to shoulder the costs, though an increase for consumers should be discovered and proven by the Office of the State Secretary, or the Illinois attorney-general through an audit of these companies.
The week prior to the passing of the law, the App Drivers Union was certified in Massachusetts, creating the first union of its kind in the country.
However, interestingly enough, there are drivers who don’t think unionization and its legalization would have a big impact, such as this retired independent contractor, also working on policies surrounding contract workers.
“My concern is it brings a lot of things that have never been done before, and even Massachusetts’ is still untested. There’s been no collective bargaining yet. All you have is the union has been certified,” Marc Avelar told Ridesharing Forum.
He added that there should be more in those clauses that must be included, such as contract laborers under unionization laws. He is saying that the law should still be challenged in the court. He believes there are more effective ways, rather than unionization, to enhance the state of these rideshare drivers in his area.
“Washington state did not go the route of sectoral organizing and sectorial bargaining, what they did is they passed something called their independent plus benefits model,” Avelar pointed out. “They basically use state government to facilitate what is best for the drivers. As long as you stay on what’s best for the drivers opposed to what’s best for the union, you’re going to help more drivers.”
Villivalam, who might have vested interests here, considering the stand of some drivers, is firm in pushing the law forward.
“The organizations that are doing this work have already created a website for any drivers that are facing deactivations, from which they are able to communicate with the company about these different situations and address anomalies, address the challenges,” Villivalam told Ridesharing Forum. Share your insights by opening your account here right now!