State Law Lets Gig Contractors Bargain

California has certified a union for Uber and Lyft drivers after Assembly Bill 1340 authorized independent contractors to engage in collective bargaining, with the Public Employment Relations Board recognizing the California Gig Workers Union (backed by SEIU). At least 30% of active drivers signaled support, and the union will now seek contracts addressing pay transparency, benefits, and the impact of autonomous vehicles. — If states increasingly enable contractor bargaining, platform business models and automation policy will face negotiated constraints—shaping wages, benefits, and how firms deploy technology.