Latest news with #PabloGodoy
CBC
03-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Uber drivers in Victoria, B.C., vote to unionize
Social Sharing More than 500 Uber drivers in Victoria, B.C., have received union certification from the province's labour relations board. The drivers will now look to bargain for collective rights with Uber, the ride-hailing giant that recently expanded across the province. In a statement, United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Canada, whose Local 1518 will represent the drivers, says it is the first time gig workers in Canada have had a union certified. A union spokesperson said the Uber drivers will be the first in Canada to have a formal say in their workplace, and they will soon bring a number of concerns to a negotiating table. "By and large, they include things like health and safety compensation, exploring whether or not there's a possibility of benefits, and things that would ... form a regular part of a collective bargaining agreement," said Pablo Godoy, UFCW Canada's director for emerging sectors. Godoy said the process was almost a year in the making, and it took a lot of work among drivers to talk to each other and sign union cards. The spokesperson noted that, given Uber's model of having drivers sign themselves up for gig work, there were some unique wrinkles to having ride-hailing drivers become part of a union. In B.C., if more than 55 per cent of a workplace votes to sign union cards, they automatically become certified with the B.C. Labour Relations Board under a single-step certification process. Godoy said that over 500 drivers signed union cards, and the union estimated there were around 600 or 700 drivers in Victoria at the time. Ultimately, the labour board was satisfied the union met the 55 per cent threshold. "The interesting and unique part of this industry is that, given the barrier to entry being so low, we know that at any given moment there can be an influx of drivers onto the platform," Godoy said. "And so we're looking forward to, in bargaining, understanding exactly the number of new members that UFCW Canada is welcoming into their family." WATCH | Uber expands across B.C.: Uber is going province-wide in B.C. 1 month ago Duration 2:05 After coming to Vancouver in 2020, Uber is finally going province-wide on Wednesday, moving into smaller regional communities like Nanaimo. While some are eager to see a new way of getting around, others, as Claire Palmer reports, are worried about the impact it may have on existing cab companies and rideshare services. The union representative said that drivers want to see better provisions around health and safety, as well as more transparency around payments, app rating systems and account deactivations. Godoy said the union hoped to begin bargaining with Uber in the next month or two and shortly thereafter have the union's first collective agreement. Beefed up gig worker regulations Last August, the province passed expanded gig worker regulations, which included a minimum wage of $20.88 an hour, workers' compensation coverage, and measures for pay transparency — though the wage only applied to time spent on jobs, not time spent waiting for jobs. At the time, Uber expressed concerns about the prospect of giving workers a minimum wage, but provincial officials did not back down from the regulation. The measures came after a number of high-profile cases involving threats to drivers and reports of them not being able to make ends meet. WATCH | High-profile case of Uber driver being attacked: Uber driver attacked by passenger in Abbotsford, B.C. 2 years ago Duration 0:59 Uber driver Aman Sood captured the moment his passenger attacked him, with a dashboard camera mounted in his car. The rules meant gig workers would be classified as employees, opening the door for further worker protections. In a Wednesday statement, Uber said there will be no change to the experience of drivers and passengers in Victoria.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Correction: Victoria Uber Drivers Secure Historic First Union Certification with UFCW Canada
Uber drivers in Canada among the first in the world to win labour board granted union status VICTORIA, British Columbia, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uber drivers in Victoria, B.C. have secured a landmark victory, 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 breakthrough signals the start of a new chapter, with Victoria leading the way as the first Canadian city where gig workers have successfully unionized to demand better protections and rights. 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. 'This is a defining moment for the labour movement in Canada,' says Shawn Haggerty, UFCW 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.' 'This certification is a powerful reminder that platform workers are not alone—they have the right to organize, to be heard, and to fight for fairness,' says Pablo Godoy, UFCW Canada Director of Emerging Sectors. 'Certification means drivers will now have a formal seat at the table to shape their work and build lasting protections in the platform economy. 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.' 'Victoria's Uber drivers have opened the door for app-based workers in British Columbia,' says UFCW Canada Local 1518 President Patrick Johnson. 'We're committed to having their back as they negotiate an agreement that honors their historic achievement and sets a new standard for fairness and respect in the digital economy.' UFCW Canada has played a key role in working with the Government of British Columbia to develop laws and regulations that support platform workers — including providing input on the introduction of basic standards and workers' compensation protections that were previously unavailable to this sector in Canada. Since signing a national agreement with Uber in 2022, UFCW Canada has been providing drivers with support and advocacy when encountering disputes on the app. UFCW Canada has filed over 4,000 cases on behalf of drivers, resulting in restored account access or positive resolutions to their disputes. MEDIA ADVISORY: Members of the media are invited to attend a press conference where Victoria Uber drivers and UFCW Canada will announce a historic first union certification for app-based workers in Canada. This historic achievement marks the first time Uber drivers in Canada have formally unionized and makes these workers among the first in the world to receive labour board–granted union certification — setting a powerful precedent for platform workers across the country and around the globe. When: Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (PST) Where: Hotel Grand Pacific — North Pender Island Ballroom463 Belleville Street, Victoria, B.C. What: Media conference announcing union certification Who: Victoria Uber drivers Representatives from UFCW Canada Special guests and supporters Media availability: Speakers will be available for interviews following the press conference. About UFCW Canada is the country's leading private sector union, representing more than 250,000 union members across Canada working in food retail and processing, transportation, health care, logistics, warehousing, agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing, and the security and professional sectors. UFCW is the country's most innovative organization dedicated to building fairness in workplaces and communities. UFCW Canada members are your neighbours who work at your local grocery stores, hotels, car rental agencies, nursing homes, restaurants, food processing plants, and thousands of other locations across the country. Contact Information Pablo GodoyDirector, Emerging SectorsUFCW in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
