500+ rideshare drivers to caravan throughout Boston to push for union rights

Native Information

The drivers are set to journey from Dorchester as much as the State Home Tuesday morning.

Over 500 rideshare drivers are set to caravan to the Massachusetts State Home Tuesday morning to stress lawmakers to go a invoice that may permit drivers who work for firms like Uber and Lyft to unionize.

“Rideshare drivers are among the many solely staff within the state denied the liberty to unionize,” 32BJ SEIU, a union serving to the drivers arrange, mentioned in a press launch.

“Now, after years of putting up with decreases of their incomes that may go away them making lower than the state’s minimal wage…drivers are demanding that state officers go the groundbreaking Rideshare Drivers Justice Invoice.”

The collectively filed invoice could be the primary legislation within the nation to supply drivers who work for firms like Uber and Lyft with a direct path to unionization. It additionally features a assured minimal wage for rideshare drivers and job protections akin to unemployment insurance coverage, discrimination safety, paid sick go away, staff’ compensation, and paid household go away.

In what may very well be the most important demonstration by rideshare drivers in Massachusetts historical past, based on 32BJ SEIU, drivers are set to fulfill on the UMass Boston Bayside parking zone in Dorchester at 10 a.m. At 11:15 a.m., they plan to make their approach by Boston in a caravan as much as the State Home.

A rally, together with speeches, is about to start out at 12:15 p.m. Activists from Drivers Demand Justice, a coalition representing over 4,000 Massachusetts rideshare drivers, will lead the rally.

It’s unclear how the Sumner Tunnel closure will have an effect on the caravan, and whether or not the caravan will worsen site visitors attributable to the closure.

Why rideshare drivers wish to unionize

Rideshare drivers face monetary hardships as a consequence of having to pay out-of-pocket for gasoline, automotive upkeep, and different work-related bills, the discharge mentioned. All of the whereas, it mentioned, they don’t have primary employee advantages akin to paid sick and household go away.

Many drivers who work for firms akin to Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Grubhub work over 60 hours per week to make ends meet, the discharge mentioned.

“Massachusetts lawmakers have led the nation in labor reform earlier than, with the historic passage of first-in-the-nation union rights for dwelling care staff. Now, labor leaders and app staff are calling on lawmakers within the commonwealth to as soon as once more make historical past,” the press launch reads.

Final yr, the Supreme Judicial Courtroom blocked a poll initiative put forth by rideshare firms that may’ve made rideshare drivers’ classification as impartial contractors a part of Massachusetts legislation. The poll measure mirrored one handed by California voters in 2020.

Whereas Uber, Lyft, and different such firms declare classification as impartial contractors ensures flexibility for drivers, many drivers argue it retains them from having the identical staff’ rights that standard staff have.

Rideshare drivers have rallied a number of instances previously yr to realize assist for his or her trigger.