The momentum to organize app-based workers is building: Uber drivers in British Columbia (B.C.) voting earlier this month to join UFCW Local 1518. The new members will be covered by the same landmark agreement first negotiated this spring for over a thousand workers in Victoria, B.C.
“The agreement reached by Uber drivers in Victoria made history. Now we’re seeing that history continue to grow,” said Patrick Johnson, president of UFCW Local 1518. “Drivers in Interior B.C. saw what was possible when workers came together, and they decided to organize for those same protections, representation, and improvements.”
The collective agreement is the first of its kind globally and includes:
- Bonuses for drivers, including a $250 union bonus for eligible drivers
- Access to a wellness fund that drivers can use to access benefits
- An in-app, time-bound process to resolve disputes
- Face-to-face representation to support drivers
- The ability to challenge unfair ratings and unfair treatment
- Access to political representation in B.C. through lobbying meetings
“A union gives us a meaningful voice on the issues that affect our livelihoods, including transparency, fairness, safety, and account-related concerns,” said Shane Sievers, an Uber driver based in Kelowna, B.C. “With proper representation, drivers don’t have to face these issues alone.”
As platform work continues to grow, gig economy workers deserve the same opportunity to improve their protections and working conditions as those in traditional industries.
“This platform economy isn’t the future of work — it’s already here,” Johnson added. “The question is whether the workers powering these platforms have a meaningful voice in shaping their jobs. What we’re seeing in British Columbia is that they can, and we believe more app-based workers will look at what’s been achieved here and see what’s possible for themselves.”
Since signing a national agreement with Uber in 2022, UFCW Canada has been providing drivers with support and advocacy when they encounter disputes on the app, filing thousands of cases on drivers’ behalf and securing restored account access or other positive resolutions.