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SPRINGFIELD, IL — On Wednesday, May 7, rideshare drivers from across Illinois gathered at the Howlett Secretary of State Building in Springfield to call on state lawmakers to support upcoming legislation that grants app-based drivers the right to collectively bargain under the union of their choice.
The event, organized by the Illinois Drivers Alliance, featured testimony from drivers as well as labor leaders from SEIU Local 1 and IAM Local 701. As the so-called “gig economy” continues to grow, thousands of rideshare drivers across Illinois remain without basic workplace protections, benefits, or a voice in the decisions that affect their livelihoods. The Illinois Drivers Alliance is advocating for a change in state law that would finally give these essential workers the legal right and a choice to unionize and bargain collectively.
“Rideshare company CEOs are among the highest paid in our nation and it is time they share the wealth created by their workers,” said Ronnie Gonzalez, IAM Midwest Territory Special Representative. “Rideshare companies maximize their profits without recognizing basic labor rights—we just want the same rights that are enjoyed by other workers here in this state.”
“Just this month, Uber was caught quietly overcharging riders in Chicago by tacking on a $1.50 ‘congestion surcharge’ outside of approved hours without telling passengers, without telling drivers, and without any oversight,” said Genie Kastrup, President of SEIU Local 1. “Passengers were shocked. Drivers were left to take the blame. And Uber? They called it a glitch.”
Drivers speaking at the event shared firsthand accounts of low and unpredictable earnings, unfair deactivations, and the lack of basic workplace protections—all issues they hope to address through union representation.
“On paper, we might be independent contractors, but what that means right now is that we don’t have a say in anything – in prices, standards, safety, or any other decision that directly affects us,” said J. Martin Konecki, a Chicago-based rideshare driver.
“Drivers have families that they need to take care of. We’re not rich. Uber and Lyft are rich. We deserve fair treatment and we aren’t going anywhere,” said Mark Ballentine, an Uber driver in Chicago.
“We need a union because we want the company to talk to us, and we want to talk to people — not a support chat bot,” said Springfield resident and Lyft driver Andrew Spiro. “We deserve to be heard and a union will give us a voice they can’t ignore.”
See more from the Illinois Drivers Alliance at www.illinoisdriversalliance.org and on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
