State Senator Ram Villivalam joined members of the Illinois Rideshare Alliance on Tuesday to advocate for the passage of Senate Bill 2906 – a measure that would allow rideshare drivers in Illinois to unionize.
“With the increase in popularity of apps like Uber and Lyft, rideshare drivers have increasingly spoken out about their lack of rights, protections and little to no transparency about pay,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Every worker deserves the right to organize. Current laws exclude rideshare drivers from the right to organize ─ leaving more than 100,000 Illinoisans without a voice on the job while corporations like Uber and Lyft make billions.”
The number of adults who work as taxi drivers or chauffeurs for their primary job has tripled over the last decade thanks to app-based rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. Since the increase in popularity of these apps for both consumers and laborers, rideshare drivers have increasingly spoken out about their lack of rights, protections and little to no transparency about pay.
To ensure rideshare drivers are able to voice their concerns and fight for fair working conditions, Villivalam is leading the charge with Senate Bill 2906 – a measure that would establish collective bargaining rights for drivers of rideshare, or transportation network, companies.
The measure would also define unfair work practices, set procedures for both their prevention and resolution, as well as set procedures for the designation of bargaining representatives, contract bargaining and impasse resolution.
“Just as other workers do, rideshare drivers should have the freedom to come together, form a union and bargain collectively,” said Villivalam.
Senate Bill 2906 currently awaits a hearing in the Senate Labor Committee.
