Quick links+
CHICAGO – In a historic breakthrough to transform the rideshare industry and to improve the lives of drivers across the state, the Illinois Drivers Alliance – a coalition powered by drivers and anchored by SEIU Local 1 and IAM Local 701 – announced on Monday that it will file legislation that will at last secure bargaining rights for the more than 100,000 estimated rideshare drivers who reside in Illinois. At the same time, the coalition also announced that after years of grassroots pressure and mobilization, including many protests and rallies aimed at the largest companies in the rideshare industry, Uber has now agreed not to oppose bargaining rights for rideshare drivers in Illinois.
For years, rideshare drivers in Illinois have been united in their demand to have the right to form a union and to bargain with rideshare industry giants. Thousands of drivers have attended rallies, protests, and regular events and meetings organized by SEIU Local 1, IAM Local 701, the Chicago Gig Alliance, among others. Many of these demonstrations and protests, some outside Uber headquarters and others at key rideshare locations like the airport, have been focused on demanding that the companies agree to respect the rights of workers to unionize and bargain for better wages and stronger working conditions.
The victory for drivers in winning such a condition from the company follows another major victory for drivers in Massachusetts, where rideshare drivers secured bargaining rights by passing a ballot referendum in November 2024. That referendum was backed by thousands of rideshare drivers who had been organizing with SEIU and the IAM. It drew support not only from a majority of voters but also countless community and religious allies who understood that workers could not wait any longer to gain the right to unionize in the rideshare industry.
The announcement from the largest rideshare company in the industry, Uber, to support statewide legislation that allows drivers to form a union marks a significant step toward achieving economic justice for rideshare drivers.
The agreement is also the result of years of organizing by the members of the Illinois Drivers Alliance and the Chicago Gig Alliance to advance the Chicago Rideshare Living Wage and Safety Ordinance, which, until now, had been set to face a vote in the City Council this week.
The aggressive organizing action around the ordinance played a key role in driving the company to commit to working cooperatively to pass state legislation that would grant workers the right to join a union. Due to loopholes and restrictions in current federal labor regulations, state-level legislation needs to be passed in order to allow rideshare drivers to bargain to improve pay and working conditions.
“This breakthrough would not have been possible without the courage and efforts of drivers shining the light on their safety and working conditions. 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,” said Illinois Drivers Alliance leader and IAM Midwest Territory Special Representative Ronnie Gonzalez. “Ald. Rodriguez’s dedication to improving the lives of workers was essential in paving the way for this unprecedented agreement and the path to union rights for rideshare drivers.”
“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,” said Illinois Drivers Alliance leader and SEIU Local 1 President Genie Kastrup. “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.”
“Illinois rideshare drivers have been leading the way toward a union and a voice on the job for years,” said IAM Union Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “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.”
“The Chicago Gig Alliance has been organizing workers to win better wages, more safety, and stronger worker protections for drivers since 2019,” said Chicago Gig Alliance Lead Organizer and driver Lori Simmons. The Fairshare Ordinance was the result of years of hard work and dedication by Chicago Gig Alliance members. 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.”
“This is a huge victory for rideshare drivers and the broader fight for economic justice in our city and state,” said Ald. Rodriguez. “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.”
“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,” said Chicagoland Uber driver Mark Ballentine. “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.”
Rideshare drivers with 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.
While the details of the bargaining bill are being finalized, the bill is expected to draw some inspiration from reforms recently passed by ballot referendum in Massachusetts, where drivers won the right to a union in November 2024.
The Illinois Drivers Alliance is a coalition of thousands of rideshare drivers across the state, powered by SEIU Local 1 and IAM Local 701. Together, we’re fighting for a legal pathway to unionization because drivers deserve the same rights and protections as every other worker. For years, drivers have been organizing with SEIU and IAM to demand fair pay, stronger protections, and a real voice on the job. Now, we’re calling on lawmakers at every level to stand with drivers and pass legislation that ensures our right to organize and build power that lasts.
