Uber and UFCW Reach Historic Agreement on Driver Representation

UFCW Canada and Uber reached a historic agreement today that will give more than 100,000 Uber and Uber Eats drivers in Canada strong representation at work. The agreement is a huge step forward in gig worker rights that will advance worker safety, pay transparency, and access to benefits.

This agreement comes after six Uber drivers in BC spoke out about being deactivated from the Uber app when they refused unsafe work. Hundreds of Uber drivers came forward to UFCW 1518 in the weeks that followed, and UFCW 1518 has been organizing these workers and pursuing justice for them. These six drivers now have a formal date on February 24 to have their cases heard.

The new agreement will ensure that no driver faces reprisals for exercising their right to bring forward issues at work. It will build a strong framework of health and safety in app-based work and set a new precedent in an industry that has been growing every year.

“We have been fighting for gig worker rights in the new economy for years,” said UFCW 1518 President Kim Novak. “For too long, gig work has been a race to the bottom for these workers, who have endured lower wages, unsafe working conditions, and arbitrary firings. Today’s agreement means that we can set a new, higher standard for worker rights in the app-based work world.”

The national agreement will see UFCW Canada become the first union in the world to represent Uber drivers. Workers on the app-based platform will have access to:

  • a strong voice at work when issues arise
  • representation for deactivation and account disputes
  • joint health and safety meetings, with a committee consisting of Uber drivers, UFCW Canada, and Uber representatives
  • representation for day-to-day on the job issues
  • quarterly meetings with senior Uber management to discuss and resolve concerns

UFCW Canada will provide representation to Uber drivers and delivery workers and will continue to organize other app-based workers to join a union and gain the benefits of collective bargaining. App-based workers can learn about how joining a union will give them even more power at work at ufcw1518.com/join-us.

For more information on the historic 5-year agreement, go to ufcw.ca