Uber drivers across Greater Victoria are now in the midst of a waiting game, following a union vote that ran from March 17 to 19, on whether to unionize with UFCW Local 1518.
More than 500 drivers signed union cards before the vote, which could lead to the first Uber driver union in Canada.
The process of unionization began several months ago when Uber drivers in Victoria reached out to the union. Patrick Johnson, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1518, explained that the effort was driver-led from the start.
"We鈥檝e been working with them for six to nine months," Johnson said. "It came from drivers in Victoria who were wanting a better grasp on the workflow of the company."
Some of the key issues behind the push for unionization include pay transparency and the ability to advocate for workers' rights regarding the deactivation of accounts.
Johnson emphasized that Uber drivers have varying work schedules, with some working part time and others full time, which creates different needs.
"There鈥檚 the Uber driver that drives for two hours every couple of days, and there鈥檚 the Uber driver that drives for 60 hours a week," Johnson said. "The union鈥檚 goal is to support them in advocating for better transparency in how they are paid and how their work is managed."
While the vote ended at noon Wednesday, the outcome might not be immediately clear. Johnson noted that disputes over worker classifications and eligibility requirements could delay the results.
"We won鈥檛 know the results right away," Johnson said. "We have some hearing dates set at the BC Labour Relations Board over the next 60 days. These hearings will address issues like how many drivers are eligible and how long they must have worked for Uber before being allowed to vote."
UFCW has been working with Uber drivers across the country since 2022, assisting with issues like account deactivations and advocating for better conditions within the gig economy. Johnson stressed the importance of representing gig workers the same way as traditional workers.
"The Uber driver needs representation as much as the factory worker or someone working in a traditional work site," Johnson said.
Beatrice Nahirnick, the first-ever Uber driver in Victoria, says driving for Uber has been her favourite job, but she hopes unionization would help improve communication with the company.
"You only ever speak to AI when you're trying to get through, and AI could be good sometimes, yes, but it's certainly not the same as having a personal conversation with somebody," Nahirnick said. "That鈥檚 where the union, I think, is gonna make a difference 鈥� they鈥檙e gonna put people back into the equation."
She has also experienced firsthand one of the core issues driving unionization. Her wife, Manuela, has been unable to work since October due to a background check error that has kept her off the streets since October.
"It鈥檚 just been an absolute nightmare trying to get her back to being able to drive. And she's not the only one 鈥� there's lots of people that put up with that, and there's no recourse."
Despite these challenges, Nahirnick says she still loves driving for Uber, especially since she gets to work alongside her small service dog.
"I get to work at my own pace and pick my own hours with my little 14-pound service dog, Honey Toes, and she rides with me on every ride," she said. "But I really am hopeful that this vote will help us all come together on the same page."
The results of the vote will determine whether Uber drivers in Greater Victoria move forward with unionization, potentially setting a precedent for other gig workers in Canada.
