Victoria Uber Drivers Secure Historic First Union Certification with UFCW Canada

Core Insights - Uber drivers in Victoria, B.C. have achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Uber drivers globally to secure union certification under UFCW Canada, marking a pivotal moment for gig workers [1][5] - The unionization effort aims to establish essential workplace protections, including enhanced health and safety measures, transparency in the app's rating system, and fair processes for account deactivations [2][3] - UFCW Canada emphasizes that this certification represents a national precedent for workers in the platform economy, highlighting the importance of collective organization for fair treatment [3][4] Industry Impact - The successful unionization of Uber drivers in Victoria is expected to influence app-based workers across Canada and potentially worldwide, setting a new standard for labor rights in the gig economy [1][5] - UFCW Canada has been actively involved in advocating for platform workers, having filed over 4,000 cases on behalf of drivers since a national agreement with Uber in 2022, resulting in favorable outcomes for many [4][9] - The union's collaboration with the Government of British Columbia has led to the development of laws and regulations that provide basic standards and workers' compensation protections for platform workers, which were previously lacking [3][4]