What is Massachusetts Ballot Question 3? Unions for rideshare drivers
BOSTON - Ballot Question 3 in Massachusetts is asking voters to decide if rideshare drivers, such as those who work for Uber and Lyft, should have the right to form unions.
Massachusetts voters will decide on five ballot questions Tuesday on Election Day.
Ballot Question 3
According to Evan Horowitz, the executive director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University, these drivers can't form unions "in the traditional way, because they're not considered employees, they're considered independent contractors."
A "yes" vote would require the state of Massachusetts to set up a new set of regulations for them and the rideshare industry so the drivers can negotiate together for better pay and benefits.
A "no" vote would mean no changes to the law.
"Yes" on Ballot Question 3
"I love driving around, I love getting to meet new people, I love talking to everyone," rideshare driver Lisbeth Lopez told WBZ-TV.
She's even become a bit of a tour guide, picking people up from the airport and welcoming visitors to her home state of Massachusetts. But those trips are also her livelihood.
"All I want is to provide(for) my kid," said Lopez. She said driving for Uber isn't putting money in her pocket like it used to. "That definitely affected the way we live, where we live. You used to be able to afford basic needs, it's getting harder and harder."
That's why Lopez is voting "yes" on Question 3.
"Many folks here in Massachusetts have come to rely on Uber and Lyft drivers," said union representative Roxana Rivera. She told WBZ about 70,000 rideshare drivers want to unionize.
"They've taken more of the share of the ride, so they've basically made more profits on the back of these drivers," Rivera said of the rideshare companies.
Uber said it has concerns about the question's language but isn't campaigning against it, claiming the demands already exist. The Attorney General's Office did reach a recent settlement with rideshare companies which now provide drivers with a standard of pay, health insurance and family leave.
A spokesperson for Uber wrote, in part, "We have no doubt that if drivers choose to organize, they will hold the benefits they've already won central to any negotiations."
Question 3 advocates recognize the progress that's been made but they want more, like coverage for tolls and gas and time between rides.
If Question 3 passes, drivers will have to get signatures from 25% of active drivers, then a union will be formed and negotiations will begin.
"No" on Ballot Question 3
But do all drivers want in?
"I think sometimes it gets a little out of control," said rideshare driver Barbara Hopkinson. She's new to Lyft and Uber and said she's concerned a union overseeing drivers could backfire.
"I think sometimes there are constraints that may force them into a strike when they don't want to," she told WBZ-TV.
According to Uber, nearly 80% of drivers support the current agreement with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.