BC Labour Board certifies Victoria Uber drivers’ union

“Lackey union” or “good first step”?

Uber drivers in Victoria, B.C. secured a landmark victory on July 2nd, with the B.C. Labour Relations Board officially certifying their union under UFCW Canada — the first union certification of its kind for Uber drivers in Canada.

“This is a defining moment for the labour movement in Canada,” says Shawn Haggerty, United Food and Commercial Workers’ Canada National President. “The certification of Uber drivers in Victoria shows that workers in every sector—even in the platform economy—can organize and win. These drivers are setting a national precedent, and UFCW Canada is committed to supporting them every step of the way as they work toward a strong, fair first agreement.”

“It’s a good first step,” says George Wedge, president of the Rideshare Drivers’ Association of Ontario. “It’s a first for Canada, and a win for organizers.”

Wedge told Taxi News that the biggest challenge in any union-organizing activities involving Uber is that “no one has a list of the drivers – no matter how many drivers you get signed up in a certification drive, Uber will come up with their own number supposedly 10 times higher to prevent certification. Victoria proved that it can be done in the newer markets. Organizers have to stand at the door of Uber’s information meetings and collect names.”

Skepticism remains high among other observers, including Owen Brandon of Victoria’s Orange Taxi. “UFCW is a ‘lackey union,'” says Brandon, pointing the the national deal United Food and Commercial Workers Union made directly with Uber in 2022, by-passing any drivers’ agreement completely.

“All they will do is collect money from drivers and kowtow to Uber. UFCW will not improve drivers’ lives in any way, shape or form; watch and see,” Brandon told Taxi News.

According to UFCW’s press release, “the drivers’ campaign focused on securing core workplace protections—such as improved health and safety measures, transparency in the app’s rating system, and fair processes for account deactivations. With certification secured, Victoria Uber drivers can now move forward to negotiate a first-of-its-kind collective agreement.”