Uber drivers in Victoria ratified the first ever union contract for app-based drivers last week. This historic achievement has secured improved health and safety measures, fair dispute processes, and improved pay and wellness benefits for more than 1,000 drivers. Bargaining lasted over eight months between the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) local 1518 and Uber.
“Over the past year and a half, Uber drivers here have united to build something great with UFCW behind us,” Amninder Singh, Uber driver and bargaining committee member, said in a UFCW statement. “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.”
The new contract includes a signing bonus for drivers that have completed at least 50 trips, quarterly bonuses that will begin in September, and a yearly increase in pay given to drivers for wait times, cancellations, and out-of-region rides.
The agreement comes less than a year after the same Victoria Uber drivers became the first app-based drivers to successfully unionize in Canada. Drivers organized around shared concerns related to health and safety measures, transparency in the app’s rating system, and fair processes for account deactivations.
LISTEN: Amazon workers win million dollars in back wages
“This worker-led, historic first collective agreement demonstrates how collective organizing can help the changing workforce meet the current moment and stand up for fairness and accountability,” said Patrick Johnson, President of UFCW Local 1518. “The monetary gains, the health and wellness wins, and the protections that come with the contract ratified today will strengthen the rideshare industry for years to come. Today, Uber drivers are redefining what being part of a union means. UFCW 1518 is proud to stand behind them and to be the union of platform workers in B.C.”
UFCW celebrates this new contract as the latest step in their efforts to develop laws and regulations that protect app-based workers. In 2022, UFCW secured a national deal with Uber that provided access to representation for more than 100,000 workers on the Uber platform. Through this agreement, drivers and delivery people can request free representation from UFCW while handling account deactivations or disputes.
Four years later, Uber said the agreement has led to 5,128 workers filing their account issues with Uber Canada with the support of UFCW Canada. Of those cases, 1,159 workers regained access to the platform, and 255 had an account-related issue resolved.
Now, Victoria platform workers enjoy even more protections under the new collective agreement.
