Massachusetts Uber and Lyft drivers form first US ride-share union

Drivers for Uber and Lyft in Massachusetts have organized the first ride-share union in the United States, a milestone in the long-running fight over how gig workers should be classified and represented. The move follows years of legal and political battles over whether platform drivers count as employees or independent contractors, with the state carving out a path that lets drivers bargain collectively while remaining contractors.

The organizing effort matters beyond Massachusetts because it provides a template other states can copy, and it puts direct pressure on Uber and Lyft to negotiate over pay floors, deactivation policies, and benefits at scale. Both companies have spent heavily to preserve the contractor model nationwide, and a functioning union shifts that balance even without reclassifying workers.