The next step is for the drivers to negotiate a first collective agreement with Uber Canada.
The union that advocates for and supports Uber ride-hailing drivers in Victoria is hailing a “landmark victory” after the B.C. Labour Relations Board agreed to certify them as members of UFCW Canada.
It’s the first union certification for gig workers in Canada.
The drivers campaigned to secure workplace protections including health and safety measures, transparency about the app rating system and fair processes for account deactivations, said the union, the United Food and Commercial Workers, in a statement Wednesday.
The next step is for the drivers to negotiate a first collective agreement with Uber Canada.
“This is a defining moment for the labour movement in Canada,” said UFCW Canada president Shawn Haggerty. “The certification of Uber drivers in Victoria shows that workers in every sector — even in the platform economy — can organize and win.”
In a statement, Uber Canada director of public policy Laura Miller said “94 per cent of drivers say that driving with Uber provides them with the scheduling flexibility they cannot get from a traditional job.
“With the recent modernization of B.C. labour laws, which now protect that flexibility, drivers as online platform workers can determine whether they want union representation.”
Miller said Uber will now sit down with UFCW 1518 “to discuss the issues raised by drivers.”
“Certification means drivers will now have a formal seat at the table to shape their work and build lasting protections in the platform economy,” said Pablo Godoy, UFCW Canada’s director of emerging sectors.
“Victoria’s Uber drivers are leading the way in building a more just future for all app-based workers, and we’re proud to stand with them as they prepare to negotiate a historic first contract.”
UFCW Local 1518 president Patrick Johnson said the local is “committed to having their back as they negotiate an agreement that honours their historic achievement and sets a new standard for fairness and respect in the digital economy.”
The union said it was a key player in talks with the provincial government to update laws and regulations on behalf of platform workers, such as setting basic standards and worker compensation benefits.
UFCW Canada signed a national agreement with Uber in 2022 and has represented over 4,000 drivers in negotiating disputes.
Uber said the B.C. government updated its labour laws in late 2024 by creating an online worker category and offering benefits and protections for app-based work. It said certification will have no immediate effect on the drivers’ relationship with Uber. “They can continue to drive with Uber when, where and how often they want” and the rider experience in Victoria will likewise be unaffected.
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