Massachusetts Governor Healey, other leaders, praise first in the nation App Driver’s Union

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today joined national and local labor leaders for the establishment of the first rideshare drivers’ union in the United States, the App Driver’s Union. The union was certified by the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations on Friday, marking the largest private sector bargaining victory since the 1940s and first union of gig workers in the country. 

On the State House steps this morning, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll stood with Service Employees International Union President April Verrett, International Association of Machinists President Brian Bryant, SEIU 32BJ National President Manny Pastreich, Assistant to the President of SEIU 32BJ Roxana Rivera, other labor leaders, legislators and hundreds of drivers to celebrate this historic accomplishment. 

“Massachusetts has always been at the forefront of the labor movement — from the mills of Lowell to the innovation economy of today. This is a historic moment for workers, for fairness and for the future of our economy,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Rideshare drivers are crucial members of our workforce and our communities, and they deserve a real voice in shaping their wages, benefits and working conditions.” 

“Massachusetts leads the nation by proving that innovation and worker protections can go hand in hand,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “This achievement continues that proud tradition and sends a message across the country that workers in every industry deserve fairness, transparency, and opportunity.” 

In November 2024, Massachusetts voters approved Ballot Question 3, which gave Transportation Network Drivers, or rideshare drivers, the right to unionize and collectively bargain for wages, benefits and conditions of work. On Friday, DLR certified the ADU as the exclusive bargaining representative for TND. Rideshare drivers across the state now have a first-in-the-nation pathway to organize and collectively bargain while maintaining their independent contractor status — creating a national model for worker empowerment in the modern economy. This impacts nearly 70,000 Massachusetts drivers, making this one of the most significant expansions of collective bargaining rights for independent contractors in modern American history. 

“For more than a decade, these drivers have been the engine of a multi-billion dollar industry with no clear path to organize, no seat at the table, no share of the prosperity they built. Now, they’re claiming their power in it,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “Throughout this fight, I’ve been honored to meet rideshare drivers from across the Commonwealth, hear their struggles and share in their dreams. This victory is theirs and it is a testament to what working people can win when they stand up and refuse to be left behind.”   

“Today marks a historic milestone for rideshare drivers—particularly the of tens of thousands of drivers who spoke out for fair pay, dignity, and a voice in this new industry,” said Senate President Karen Spilka. “Massachusetts is once again leading the way when it comes to strengthening worker protections and creating an equitable future as the gig economy evolves. I’m proud of the determination and collective action of everyone who made this possible, and I look forward to the example the App Drivers Union sets for everyone.” 

“Massachusetts has long been a leader in both protecting workers and building an economy that creates opportunity,” said Senator Jake Oliveira, Chair of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “When workers have a seat at the table and a voice in the decisions that affect their livelihoods, we create stronger workplaces, more stable communities, and a more resilient economy. Today’s milestone represents an important step forward for workers and demonstrates that innovation and economic growth can advance alongside fairness and dignity in the workplace.” 

“This is a proud and defining moment for the Commonwealth and for the labor movement nationwide,” said Representative Paul McMurtry, Chair of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “As industries evolve, Massachusetts remains committed to ensuring that worker protections evolve alongside them. Today’s achievement sends a clear message that innovation and strong labor standards can coexist, and that our Commonwealth will always fight to ensure workers have the opportunity to live, work, and raise their families with security and dignity.” 

“For too long, the gig economy was built on a fools’ bargain: the companies got rich and workers scraped by. The rules were rigged,” said April Verrett, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).  “But Massachusetts rideshare drivers flipped the script. They had the audacity and imagination to unrig those rules and win their union. In a moment when working people need hope, these drivers are a shining light. They are steering the future of the labor movement and taking their destiny into their hands.” 

“Massachusetts rideshare drivers just made labor history. Nearly 70,000 app-based drivers have officially won union recognition through the App Drivers Union — the first union recognition for app-based workers anywhere in the United States and the largest private-sector organizing victory in generations,” said Brian Bryant, IAM Union International President. “What started with the IAM Union organizing black car drivers in the 1990s has grown into a groundbreaking partnership with SEIU 32BJ that is now reshaping the future of work in America. This victory proves that no matter how powerful Big Tech becomes, workers still have the power to organize, demand fairness and win a real voice on the job.” 

“This victory belongs to the drivers who spent years organizing in airport parking lots, community centers, places of worship and neighborhoods across Massachusetts to build power from the ground up,” said Mike Vartabedian, App Drivers Union Principal Officer and IAM District 15 Assistant Directing Business Representative. “Drivers are standing together for better pay, protection from unfair deactivations, transparency around algorithms, safer working conditions and dignity on the job. For too long, rideshare corporations made billions while drivers had little voice over the conditions they face every day. What’s happening in Massachusetts is a model for app-based workers everywhere who are ready to organize, demand respect and win a seat at the table.” 

“The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is proud to congratulate our siblings in the App Drivers Union on their historic victory as they become the exclusive bargaining representative of rideshare drivers across the Commonwealth,” said Chrissy Lynch, President, Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “The right to form a union is foundational to the labor movement, and ADU has demonstrated that committed, strategic organizing can win the fight against Big Tech and secure one of the largest private sector unions wins in decades. We applaud the Healey Administration and the Department of Labor Relations for their work to secure this win for 70,000 drivers across the state. We will proudly stand with our siblings in ADU as they fight for a first contract, and we are thankful to all of the workers, 32BJ SEIU, IAM, allies, elected leaders, and advocates who have joined with us in fighting Big Tech and proving that when we fight, we win.”