Uber App. (Photo: Katy Grimes for California Globe)
Newsom Signs Bill to Unionize California’s 800,000 Rideshare Gig Workers: This Was the Plan All Along
This Democrat and Big Labor coup to steal an industry has been in the works for years
By Katy Grimes, October 4, 2025 8:50 am
Governor Gavin Newsom Friday signed Assembly Bill 1340 by Democrat Assembly members Buffy Wicks and Marc Berman into law, “marking a historic milestone for California’s gig economy and the hundreds of thousands of drivers who power it,” Wicks and Berman said in a press statement.
There is nothing “historic” about taking over a private sector industry for unionization. It’s Marxism. California Governor Newsom, the Senate and Assembly have been working in partnership with the SEIU to unionize more than 800,000 workers, the Globe reported.
“In partnership with SEIU,” Uber and Lyft won’t have a chance. They may as well become a taxi service, we said.
Remember how this went down: In 2019, Assembly Bill 5, authored by Democrat Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (who left the CA Legislature in 2022 to lead the California Labor Federation — the same organization that sponsored AB 5 ), completely redefined independent contractors in California, as well as greatly reducing the number of contractors in the state by creating an “ABC test” that instead made them employees, or put them out of work.
AB 5 was passed by Democrats in the California Legislature and signed into law in 2019 by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The problem was they dragged all other California independent contractors into the fray, and killed off their jobs too – independent truckers, traveling physicians and nurses, musicians and actors, and many others who worked several “gigs” in many cases to earn a living. It was a conscientious choice.
So in November 2020, in response to this anti-capitalist law, California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 22, to exempt all rideshare drivers from being classified as employees. California’s Supreme Court even upheld Proposition 22, allowing drivers at Uber, Lyft, and other ride share companies to operate as independent contractors, rather than employees.
However, it was only a matter of time before the hammer came down on the independent-minded workforce:
Fulfilling a promise to address everyday affordability for millions of Californians, the Governor, Senate Pro Tem and Assembly Speaker are proud to announce support for AB 1340 (by Assembly members Buffy Wicks, Marc Berman), which is sponsored by SEIU California; and SB 371 (by Sen. Chris Cabaldon), sponsored by Uber and Lyft.
“This is a historic agreement between workers and business that only California could deliver,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “Labor and industry sat down together, worked through their differences, and found common ground that will empower hundreds of thousands of drivers while making rideshare more affordable for millions of Californians. It’s proof that California can do big things, tackle tough issues, and improve peoples’ lives.”
“Industry” had no choice but to capitulate to California’s Big Labor.
The reality is, thousands of drivers started driving for Uber and Lyft to improve their lives, and many did it as a side gig. Some were actors who supplemented their income between acting and theater jobs. Some were musicians. Some were insomniac moms who drove at night making money when they couldn’t sleep and dad was at home with the kids. Some were college students who drove between classes, on holidays and breaks. Some were recent immigrants earning an income. Some were retired people who wanted to stay busy and social.
These are all people I have personally spoken with in an Uber. California has been killing their flexibility.
AB 1340 is so bad, it was placed on the suspense file in August, ostensibly until next year, but in fact, it was until Wicks and Berman could muster up additional support.
Bill analysis says “This bill would establish the Transportation Network Company (TNC) Drivers Labor Relations Act to require bargaining for a sectoral agreement between TNCs and TNC Driver organizations. The bill would require the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to administer its provisions.”
This bill is a coup – a Marxist revolution targeting 800,000 independent drivers.
“AB 1340 creates the largest organizing opportunity in a generation by enabling California’s more than 800,000 rideshare drivers to choose a union and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.”
Most of the rideshare drivers chose to drive independently because they could choose when it worked best for them.
California Democrats are destroying one of the most creative and independent industries to have come along in decades.
Observe to the language used by the bill’s authors:
“This law is about dignity and fairness for the people who keep California moving,” said Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland). “For too long, drivers have worked long hours with no voice in the decisions that shape their livelihoods. AB 1340 gives them the power to stand together, bargain for better pay and protections, and help build a future where the gig economy works for the people behind the wheel.”
Assemblywoman Wicks says, “drivers have worked long hours with no voice in the decisions that shape their livelihoods,” ignoring that drivers just by choosing to drive for Uber or Lyft, were making decisions to shape their livelihoods.
“Today marks a historic leap forward for fairness and dignity on the job for hundreds of thousands of California workers who, thanks to Governor Newsom signing AB 1340, will now have the opportunity to join a union,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park).
The Great Leap Forward was the campaign led by the Chinese Communist Party between 1958 and early 1960 to organize China’s vast population.
Even the Communist Party USA says “under the right leadership, labor unions can play a revolutionary role in people’s lives.”
We are now officially The People’s Republic of California.
A California native and Navy mom, Katy lives in Sacramento, CA.
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‘Newsom said. “Labor and industry sat down together, worked through their differences, and found common ground that will empower hundreds of thousands of drivers while making rideshare more affordable for millions of Californians.”
Hmm, Can’t say as I’ve ever heard of unionization making anything more affordable. Matter of fact it has been my experience that when a union is formed prices rise.
A quick check shows that Ubers headquarters are located in San Francisco. With the intervention of SEIU and the state government it looks like a wealth transfer is going to take place towards the SEIU and politicians. One of the unintended consequences is that tourism will continue to slow down and conventions will begin to book in other cheaper states to do business in.
Most of what’s wrong with California originates with politicians from San Francisco.
If you needed another reason to despise the state legislature’s Dem-Marxists and their ridiculous kingpin Gavin Newsom —— who sneak around and hide what they are up to so that Californians cannot detect being actively HARMED and DAMAGED by these freak politicians whose only dream is to consolidate their power —— just remember THIS sneaky commie bill, AB 1340. And IF you needed another reason to do the right thing and VOTE NO ON PROP 50, also known by sensible voters as the Election Rigging Act, you should remember this sneaky commie bill that the legislature passed and Gruesome signed. This is an attempt by power-mad Dem politicians, led by Gov Narcissist, to further destroy California.
By the way, Newsom’s Nov 4 “special election” will end up costing us more than $300M, not the previously quoted $280M, because the sloppy SOS made a mistake on a district map in the voter info booklet and it will cost millions more to send out postcards and/or appendices to correct it. As if they care about an accurate voter booklet, right?
VOTE NO on Prop 50. (The Election Rigging Act)
Anyone with the first name Buffy shouldn’t be elected to any office, well maybe dog catcher.
Maybe Vampire Slayer…. she has the soulless eyes of a vampire….
The Communist Democrats just put ride share workers out of a job, just like they did with the minimum wage for fast food workers. Ride share companies are now incentivized to replace drivers with self driving cars. A friend of mine just told me last night he rode in a Waymo from Hollywood to Playa del Rey last week. He said it was great, and he didn’t have to tip the driver, because there was no driver.
With the elections rigged with Prop. 50, expect more of this, lots more.
Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. which is Google’s parent company. Being evil is what this corporation is all about and maybe it also provided incentives to the the criminal Democrat thug mafia in the legislature knowing that legislation like this would destroy rideshare driver jobs paving the way for driverless vehicles?
That’s a possibility, TJ.
That’s a possiblity TJ.
Later there will be other self driving taxi companies.
This legislation only benefits the criminal Democrat thug mafia in the legislature and their SEIU union thug cronies rather than the thousands of drivers who wanted the flexibility to drive as independent contractors. No doubt the SEIU union thugs provided lucrative incentives for authoring this legislation to creepy Democrat Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks the wicked abortion queen and the equally creepy bespectacled Democrat Assemblyman Marc Berman who is a member of the Democrat Legislative Jewish Caucus but who has done absolutely nothing to stop the rampant antisemitism on California’s publicly funded educational institutions?
No kidding, TJ. The gruesome twosome.
Gavin Newscum is a vile, lying, cheating, crooked, slimy snake-oil salesman. Never believe a word that comes out of that SOB dirt-bags mouth.
Does anyone actually like anything Newsome does?
I’m thinking he only keeps power with continued illegal fraud.
The only way to stop his ongoing crime wave looks like forced actually honest elections.
Still, I think we all know the Federal government see’s and hear’s all scum like Newsome are doing.
Craig, no U.S. citizen with a job in the middle and working class could possibly like what Newsom does. Newsom has run this state into the ground.
Since 1990, the SEIU has been the top organizational contributor to federal political campaigns, donating over $232 million, with 99% of that amount going to Democrats.
No conflict of interest there.
I thought SCOTUS Janus decision afforded employees the right to opt out of union membership or be to compelled to pay membership dues?
That applies in right- to- work states. California is not a right to work state. …no surprise there!
Unions are easily the most powerful force in California politics and will eventually help lead us to bankruptcy. Nothing can stop that momentum now. It’s only a matter of time.
This will probably lay waste to Uber’s business model too. Adios!
Skunked, please see below reply to commenter Buck Lowens. I am not a teacher but it is my understanding that this is what happens as a practical matter. Perhaps this would also happen for rideshare drivers who would like to maintain independence under this new jackboot state law?
CA is a Corrupted Communist Culture as in one party state – that apparently not enforce federal laws unless they like them – they judge shop to tie up any federal law for as long as they can using tax dollars to do it.
Where is the customary vote of aspiring members to unionize? Then consider that whether the member agrees to it or not, a portion of his union dues will be earmarked for the electoral campaigns of leftist politicians. The private sector unions are bad enough in this regard, but governmentt union members such as the seiu are essentially voting for and otherwise all in supporting their ultimate employers, surely not the case for private sector union members. Since when did a private sector union member vote for a ceo and a board of directors?
As commenter SkunkedinD7 noted above, unwilling union members under the Janus decision are, in fact, technically able to opt out of the union, but it is my understanding that teachers (just as one example) who seek to do so face immense pressure and a certain amount of hazing and similar from peers and other staff to stay with the union. Some of those peers are fully engaged with the union as reps and such and thus tasked with keeping fellow teachers on board.
Thank you for the explanation, Showandtell.
Pressure to join the union can/will be applied using the ride share app. Join the union and you get more rides – don’t join and you get fewer rides (i.e., less income). This would be illegal of course, but when have these Marxists ever worried about anything they do being illegal?
Interesting, Raymond. That sounds like how it will happen. sigh
The problem is that Uber and Lyft control too much of the transaction. There should be an app where drivers and customers congregate and agree to a particular ride. The driver has his own payment setup and does not report anything to the owner of the app if a ride is agreed upon. The driver truly is independent. The app owner gets paid by potential drivers by charging a single monthly subscription fee before any transaction takes place. It’s no different than a teenager in the neighborhood taking you to the airport and charging you a $20 fee. It’s just a way to do the link up.
Since when has a company negotiated with a government concerning unionization of it’s workforce rather than the employees of the company themselves concerning wages and working conditions? “We know better than you what is best for you” said the bolshevik. Lyft and uber will now become another function of public transportation. It will be operated with all the professionalism and efficiency of the CADMV, and will be profoundly overpriced as well. How soon will they mandate that the new taxi service be all electric?
What $20/hr did to workers such as increase in Kiosks and robots
will do the same for Uber/Lyft
Looks like Newsom was gunning for Waymo to take over (figure he and/or his wife will be getting kickbacks)
Here we go with yet another California law that is just a solution looking for a problem. Ultimately, it’s just going to be another massive grift for unions and will lock in Uber and Lyft as the only companies capable of providing rideshare services in the state. In some areas of the state, there is only one option between Left or Uber or even no option at all. This law will cause a further contraction of availability of rideshare services throughout the state as it will mean less drivers and a focus only on major urban areas. Meanwhile, this sets up yet another centralized bureaucracy that will lockout starts up and entrench the two incumbents.
I retired five years ago, just before covid. My office used to employ 80 people on a 24×7 schedule. As of today, my former office is staffed by just three people. Everything is automated. California’s employment laws were too much to overcome, they destroyed profitability so the company plunged straight into automation. It’s been great for the bottom line but not so much for the working people of California.