Massachusetts Rideshare Drivers Receive State List to Speed Union Formation
Labor organizers who want to create the first app-based rideshare driver union in the United States have just received some support to advance their cause. In December 2025, the U.S….
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Labor organizers who want to create the first app-based rideshare driver union in the United States have just received some support to advance their cause.
In December 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor Relations decided that an up-and-coming union group — the App Drivers Union (ADU) — met the requirements to be regarded as the bargaining representative of at least 5% of active rideshare drivers.
“The Department of Labor Relations has worked diligently to implement all components of Chapter 150F, including the safe and secure collection of data through the initial ‘showing of interest' phase, which led to the designation of the ADU as the exclusive bargaining representative for at least 5% of eligible drivers,” a DLR spokesperson told the Boston Globe via the State House News Service. Chapter 150F refers to the law that gives Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare drivers the right to organize.
Top labor organizers in Massachusetts told State House News Service on Friday, Feb. 6, and Monday, Feb. 9, that they were looking forward to the state handing over the list of active drivers. An SEIU spokesperson later retracted the comments and confirmed that the ADU had already received the list.
The unionization effort comes as rideshare drivers have been voicing concerns about the growing threat of autonomous vehicles that could put them out of work. During the week of Feb. 2, self-driving robotaxi company Waymo announced its desire to return to Boston for testing and called on the state's Legislature to legalize fully autonomous vehicles.
Organizers and volunteers supporting the ADU have already obtained thousands of signed authorization cards, said Mike Vartabedian, assistant director of business representative for IAM District 15, in a statement shared with the Boston Globe.
With access to the state's driver list, the ADU said it will be able to turn to phone banks and emails to reach specific drivers in Boston.
By the end of the year, “at the latest,” Vartabedian anticipates that the rideshare drivers will secure their union.
