Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, LABOR NEWS—California gig drivers reach union milestone, paving way for world’s largest rideshare driver union, (Aug 18, 2026)
Organizations Mentioned:Lyft, Inc.
By Patricia K. Ruiz, J.D.
The labor organization moves toward certification following verification by California labor authorities.
California rideshare drivers have reached a major organizing milestone after the California Gig Workers Union (CGWU) achieved the support threshold required to represent gig drivers throughout the state. The development follows the enactment of AB 1340, a California law that established a process for rideshare drivers to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. State officials and union leaders said the achievement positions the organization to become the world's largest union of rideshare drivers.
Support threshold verified. The California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), the state agency overseeing gig drivers, verified that the CGWU reached the support threshold needed to represent gig drivers statewide. According to the union, the achievement establishes the largest union of rideshare drivers in the world. The governor's office said that, following a 30-day waiting period, CGWU can be certified as the collective bargaining representative for Lyft and Uber drivers. The union likewise stated that it had taken the required step toward formal recognition.
Legal framework established by AB 1340. The organizing effort follows the passage of AB 1340, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2025. According to the governor's office, the legislation gave hundreds of thousands of California rideshare drivers a legally protected choice to unionize and engage in collective bargaining over wages, benefits and working conditions. CGWU said the law gave gig rideshare drivers the right to form a union and bargain with companies such as Uber and Lyft.
Organizing campaign. The union said drivers spent a decade organizing to form a union focused on issues including wages, flexibility, health benefits and worker protections. The organization stated that drivers throughout California worked to build support for representation among rideshare workers. According to the union, the successful campaign resulted in enough support to seek recognition under the framework established by AB 1340.
State and union reactions. Newsom described the development as "a new day for rideshare drivers who have spent a decade fighting for a stronger voice on the job." The governor's office said California's labor law empowered drivers to reach the representation threshold required for union certification. CGWU characterized the result as a historic achievement for rideshare drivers in the state and said it marked a significant step toward collective bargaining rights for drivers working on digital platforms.
News: LaborNews Labor Bargaining UnionsMembers