Stop Forced Unionization by a Super Minority of Workers

Question 3, also known as An Act Giving Transportation Network Drivers the Option to Form a Union and Bargain Collectively, is an attempt by national union bosses to force people driving for ride share companies in Massachusetts into a union.

Currently, Transportation Networks Drivers (TND) like those driving for Uber and Lyft are classified as independent contractors. It’s this status that makes these services as popular as they are. It gives drivers the option to drive for as much as they want, whenever they want, for as long as they want while market forces ensure that riders have options available wherever and whenever they decide to use the services.

A yes vote on Question 3 will remove much of this flexibility and raise prices to put more money in union boss’s pockets, not drivers’ pockets.

As it stands, Uber and Lyft have already addressed almost all of the biggest issues people had regarding driver benefits. Currently, drivers in Massachusetts already receive:

-Base of $32.50 per hour with yearly increases

-Paid Sick Leave

-Paid Family Medical Leave

-Healthcare Stipend

-On-the-Job Injury Insurance

-Anti-Discrimination Protections

-Domestic Violence Leave

-Anti-Retaliation Protections

-Appeals Process

The passage of this question will allow state government to set the wages for these private companies, and ultimately force drivers to pay dues into a union they don’t want and that they have little control over. This is possible because this question artificially lowers the threshold required to call a unionization vote from the normal 30% of employees to just 2.5%! Not only is this unfair to drivers, but this is also a violation of long-established federal labor laws and will likely open the state up to lawsuits and litigation in the future, if passed.

Massachusetts is already among the most expensive states to live and do business in. This ballot question will only further drive-up costs and add unnecessary red tape to apps whose primary purpose is increasing flexibility and giving both drivers and consumers more options. Please vote no on Question 3 to protect the rights of drivers and consumers alike.