Skip to content
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Menu
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Happy News

Hundreds of Thousands of Drivers Just Won a Victory

California lawmakers have struck a groundbreaking deal with Uber and Lyft that creates a pathway for app-based drivers to unionize, marking a historic victory for hundreds of thousands of gig workers who have long been classified as independent contractors without collective bargaining rights. Governor Gavin Newsom called it an “historic agreement between workers and business that only California could deliver,” emphasizing how labor representatives and ride-hail companies found common ground that benefits both drivers and passengers. The agreement addresses years of criticism from drivers who felt powerless against company policies regarding pay, deactivations, and working conditions, often staying silent out of fear of losing their livelihoods. Assembly Bill 1340, sponsored by SEIU California, and Senate Bill 371, backed by Uber and Lyft, work together to create a model for drivers to organize for increased pay, job protections, and other benefits.

In exchange for supporting unionization rights, California regulators will back legislation to reduce expensive insurance coverage mandates that ride-hailing companies currently pay, which they say contributes to higher fares and lower driver pay. The deal comes years after these companies spent over $200 million convincing voters to pass Proposition 22, which maintained drivers’ independent contractor status while providing limited benefits. Driver Margarita Peñalosa from Los Angeles captured the significance perfectly, explaining that many immigrant drivers like herself have felt pressured to stay silent about unfair treatment rather than risk deactivation. This California breakthrough could create ripple effects nationwide, as Massachusetts voters already approved a similar initiative, suggesting that the future of gig work may finally include the worker protections and voices that have been missing for too long.

PrevPreviousWhy Children Might Hold the Key to Curing HIV Forever
NextThis Treasure Hunter Found More Than Just GoldNext

Recent Articles

Happy News

This Award Show Is Finally Returning Soon

February 7, 2026

Billboard Women in Music is returning in 2026 to celebrate another year of women’s excellence in the music industry, with the annual awards show taking place at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles to recognize the bold vision, global influence and artistic excellence of women transforming music across all genres.

Read More
Happy News

McDonald’s Brings Back Most Requested Happy Meal Toy

February 7, 2026

McDonald’s announced it is bringing back the Changeables Happy Meal featuring nostalgic toys originally launched in 1987 that transform from McDonald’s menu items like French fries into robots and dinosaurs, marking the return of what the company calls “the most requested” Happy Meal toy from the past. The Changeables officially

Read More
Happy News

Fourth Graders Get Music Lesson From Rihanna’s Husband

February 7, 2026

A$AP Rocky headed back to a Harlem elementary school to teach kids a thing or two about rap for the Wednesday episode of Celebrity Substitute, where Mr. Mayers’ class was in session and fourth graders got a crash course in hip hop from one of the neighborhood’s most famous success

Read More
« Previous Next »
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2026 HappyNews.