Americans Support Stronger Labor Protections for Rideshare Drivers
By Anika Dandekar, Brian Burton, and Marissa Farmer
In recent years, rideshare companies Uber and Lyft have spent millions in advertising and lobbying to fight against labor protections for drivers. Uber and Lyft drivers frequently lack basic labor rights, such as job security or sustainable wages after car-related costs. Meanwhile, the companies’ executives are increasing passenger fares, taking bigger cuts of these fares for themselves, and further decreasing driver pay in order to boost profits.
A new Data for Progress survey of U.S. adults shows that the public is in favor of rideshare drivers’ unionization efforts, and supports a wide range of benefits for drivers. Americans think drivers need more labor protections, and do not buy opposition arguments frequently touted by Uber and Lyft that such protections would decrease driver flexibility or increase ride fares for passengers. The survey also identified adults who are “gig” workers, including rideshare drivers employed by Uber and Lyft, as well as those who earn income from food delivery apps like DoorDash and Instacart. These gig workers support stronger labor protections and better benefits, and say they would benefit from having union representation.
When asked about laws and protections for rideshare workers, two-thirds of U.S. adults say that “we need better laws and protections to improve drivers’ pay and working conditions,” while only 20% of respondents say that drivers’ pay and working conditions are “sufficient as is.” Furthermore, a majority of U.S. adults across parties agree that better protections are needed for workers, with 80% of Democrats, 63% of Independents, and 55% of Republicans supporting this view. Additionally, about 3 in 4 gig workers support stronger laws improving pay and working conditions.
Majorities of Americans say that unionization would positively impact drivers’ overall pay (61%) and job security (58%). Half of Americans (50%) say that unionization would also benefit drivers’ safety, and a plurality (49%) say that unionization would improve drivers’ flexibility. Pluralities of adults also believe that unionization of drivers would also improve passengers’ experiences: 42% say it would help driver availability, 41% say it would help quality of service, 39% say it would improve passenger safety, and 31% say it would improve ride fares.
Respondents show broad levels of support for a variety of rideshare worker protections, including health care benefits and paid time off (74% support), reimbursements for car maintenance (74% support), and consistent pay per hour (73% support). The most widely supported protections are greater job security, accident liability insurance, reimbursement for gas mileage, and greater transparency in how passenger fares are shared with drivers, with at least 3 in 4 U.S. adults supporting each of these protections.
When asked about sectoral bargaining, a type of collective bargaining where workers negotiate with multiple employers to establish labor standards for an entire industry, two-thirds of U.S. adults (67%) support the right of workers to form unions across their industry, including 85% of Democrats, 62% of Independents, and 57% of Republicans. Additionally, gig workers support sectoral bargaining by a 58-point margin, with more than 3 in 4 workers (76%) expressing support for this policy.
The polling similarly finds that 57% of gig workers say they would benefit from having a union with workers like themselves, while only 30% say they would not benefit.
Respondents were then asked about their views on the impacts a rideshare driver union would have, and whether the union would provide protections and better working conditions, or if the union would create burdensome regulations for the rideshare companies, reducing driver flexibility. A second question asked whether the union would provide protections and better working conditions, or if the union would increase ride fares. In both questions, we find that a majority of U.S. adults hold pro-union sentiments, with 65% saying that the unions would protect drivers, not limit flexibility, and 62% saying that unions would protect drivers, not increase fare prices.
This pro-union sentiment is slightly stronger among gig workers, with 70% saying that the unions would protect drivers, not limit flexibility, and 71% saying that unions would protect drivers, not increase fare prices.
The research shows that rideshare drivers’ union efforts are broadly popular among Americans, and especially among gig workers. Furthermore, Americans do not buy Uber and Lyft arguments that unionization would negatively affect driver flexibility or ride fares.
Anika Dandekar (@AnikaDandekar) is a senior analyst at Data for Progress.
Brian Burton (@Brian_C_Burton) is a lead analyst at Data for Progress.
Marissa Farmer is a polling intern at Data for Progress.