History has been made in Victoria, British Columbia as Uber drivers have ratified their first-ever union contract, and the first of its kind for ridesharing app drivers.
More than 1,000 drivers who are members of United Food and Commercial Workers 1518 are covered under this agreement. This union contract will regulate, represent, and protect these app-based drivers.
It was in July 2025 when Uber drivers in Victoria made history upon joining UFCW 11518, also making Victoria the first city in Canada where ridesharing workers have successfully unionized to demand better protections and rights. In previous Ridesharing Forum reports, drivers’ unions often find themselves clashing with authorities.
Now, with a ratified contract, these unionized Uber drivers can secure core workplace protections, such as better health and safety measures, fair dispute processes, and improved pay and wellness benefits.
Under the ratified contract, Uber drivers in Victoria who are union drivers will get access to face-to-face representation and can advocate for fair treatment with a legally enforceable collective bargaining agreement behind them.
The contract also constitutes benefits and perks, such as signing and quarterly bonuses, yearly fee increases, a wellness fund for sick periods or extended benefits, better health and safety, and so much more.
Gilberto Talero Almanza, an Uber driver and the member of the bargaining committee, told Ridesharing Forum, "This agreement is irrefutable proof that when workers unite to work together in solidarity with a common goal, great results can be achieved. This contract enables all Uber drivers in Victoria to continue to contribute to society while ensuring they have respect and dignity at work.”
Another member of the bargaining committee, also an Uber driver, Amninder Singh, meanwhile, recognizes the importance of Uber drivers creating a union “to build something great.”
"With this contract, we have achieved fairness, fair pay, strong support, and real tangible gains. We now have protections for drivers when they have issues, and that ultimately will lead to better conditions for everyone,” Singh noted.
United Food and Commercial Workers Canada has played a key role in working with British Columbia’s government to develop laws and regulations that support these rideshare workers, which include providing input on the introduction of basic standards and workers’ compensation protections that were previously unavailable to this sector in Canada.
“Today, Victoria Uber drivers have voted to have their voices heard and their rights protected, and we are proud to be the union representing them,” stated Barry Sawyer, the union’s national president.
Since signing a nationwide agreement with Uber in 2022, this union has provided drivers with the support and the advocacy they need when encountering disputes on the app. It has also filed more than thousands of cases on behalf of these drivers, paving the way for restored account access or optimistic resolutions to their disputes.
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