Uber's Union Breakthrough: A Victory for Illinois Drivers

In a historic turn of events, the Illinois Drivers Alliance, a coalition of rideshare drivers powered by SEIU Local 1 and IAM Local 701, has secured a monumental victory. After years of grassroots efforts and relentless organizing, Uber has agreed not to oppose bargaining rights for rideshare drivers in Illinois. This breakthrough paves the way for statewide legislation that will grant over 100,000 drivers the right to form a union and collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions.

The journey to this landmark agreement has been long and arduous. For years, rideshare drivers in Illinois have been united in their demand for the right to unionize. Thousands of drivers have attended rallies, protests, and meetings, calling on companies like Uber to respect their rights to bargain for better wages and stronger working conditions. These demonstrations, often held outside Uber headquarters and at key rideshare locations like airports, have been a testament to the drivers' resolve and determination.

The victory in Illinois follows a similar triumph in Massachusetts, where rideshare drivers secured bargaining rights through a ballot referendum in November 2024. That referendum, backed by thousands of drivers organizing with SEIU and the IAM, drew support from a majority of voters and countless community and religious allies. The success in Massachusetts has set a precedent for other states, inspiring similar efforts across the country.

The agreement with Uber is the result of years of organizing by the Illinois Drivers Alliance and the Chicago Gig Alliance. Their aggressive campaign around the Chicago Rideshare Living Wage and Safety Ordinance played a crucial role in driving the company to commit to working cooperatively to pass state legislation. Due to loopholes and restrictions in current federal labor regulations, state-level legislation is necessary to allow rideshare drivers to bargain for improved pay and working conditions.

Ronnie Gonzalez, IAM Midwest Territory Special Representative and leader of the Illinois Drivers Alliance, emphasized the significance of this breakthrough. "This would not have been possible without the courage and efforts of drivers shining the light on their safety and working conditions," he said. "The Illinois Drivers Alliance, the Chicago Gig Alliance, and their many allies, along with Workforce Committee Chair Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22), laid the groundwork by pushing the envelope at the city level. That forced the largest rideshare company in Illinois to begin reckoning with the fact that opposing bargaining was an untenable position in our city and our state."

Genie Kastrup, President of SEIU Local 1 and another leader of the Illinois Drivers Alliance, hailed the day as historic. "This is a historic day for Illinois rideshare drivers, not just in Chicago but all across Illinois who are leading the fight to unionize, which would improve their working conditions, pay standards, and give them a voice on the job," she said. "With state legislation, we will be able to reach beyond city limits to lift up hundreds of thousands of drivers across Illinois. Real change can only happen when workers have a union and a voice at the table. We’re ready to take this fight to Springfield and win the future of rideshare."

Sam Cicinelli, IAM Union Midwest Territory General Vice President, echoed these sentiments. "Illinois rideshare drivers have been leading the way toward a union and a voice on the job for years," he said. "Today’s announcement brings us closer than ever to statewide legislation that delivers the right to union representation for Illinois rideshare drivers. Together, the Illinois Drivers Alliance and thousands of rideshare drivers in Illinois are ready to pass landmark legislation in Springfield that raises wages, increases safety standards, and makes the rideshare industry work for the drivers who make it all possible."

Lori Simmons, Lead Organizer of the Chicago Gig Alliance and a driver herself, expressed both disappointment and excitement. "The Fairshare Ordinance was the result of years of hard work and dedication by Chicago Gig Alliance members," she said. "Although we are extremely disappointed that we will not see the ordinance come to fruition at the city level in the way that we had hoped, we are also incredibly excited about the opportunity to create real and lasting driver power on a much larger scale as a member of the Illinois Drivers Alliance."

Ald. Rodriguez, who has been a key ally in this fight, praised the agreement. "This is a huge victory for rideshare drivers and the broader fight for economic justice in our city and state," he said. "Our job as public servants is to improve the lives of working people. This agreement between Uber and the Illinois Drivers Alliance does just that. I am grateful for our work with the Chicago Gig Alliance on the Fairshare Ordinance as we laid the groundwork for a future where drivers are treated with dignity, have a real voice on the job, and can shape the conditions they work under. This is what progress looks like."

Mark Ballentine, a Chicagoland Uber driver and long-time organizer for a union, summed up the sentiment of many drivers. "As an Uber driver who has organized for a union for years, today is a testament to the driver power we continue to build upon," he said. "We know that the only way to a better life for rideshare drivers is a union and a strong voice on the job. We’re energized and ready to pass statewide legislation that gives us the freedom to negotiate better pay, benefits and work rules through the power of a union."

The Illinois Drivers Alliance, the Chicago Gig Alliance, and their allies will now work to advance legislation in Springfield that secures union rights for drivers and establishes a statewide framework for bargaining in the rideshare industry. The details of the bargaining bill are still being finalized, but it is expected to draw inspiration from reforms recently passed by ballot referendum in Massachusetts.

This victory in Illinois is not just a win for rideshare drivers; it is a victory for the broader gig economy. It sets a precedent for other states and industries to follow suit, demonstrating that workers can organize and bargain for better conditions even in the face of powerful corporate interests. The success of these efforts in Illinois could inspire similar legislation in other states, leading to better protections and benefits for gig workers across the country.

In conclusion, the agreement between Uber and the Illinois Drivers Alliance marks a significant step toward achieving economic justice for rideshare drivers. It is a testament to the power of grassroots organizing and the determination of workers to fight for their rights. As the fight for unionization continues, the victory in Illinois serves as a beacon of hope for workers everywhere, reminding us that real change is possible when workers have a union and a voice at the table.