Is There a Union for Uber Drivers in NYC?

Yes, you can join a drivers' union in NYC, but no union has a contract with Uber or Lyft. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) accepts app drivers, and the Independent Drivers Guild (IDG) works with Uber and Lyft drivers. Neither one bargains your pay with the companies. Your pay floor comes from a TLC rule.

Two meanings of "union"

When people say "union," they often mean two different things:

• A group you join. You pay dues (or sign up), and the group helps you with problems and pushes for new laws and rules. This exists today for app drivers.
• A contract with the company. A union negotiates pay and working conditions with the employer, and both sides sign a collective bargaining agreement. This does not exist today between NYC app drivers and Uber or Lyft.

The IDG says this itself: its website asks drivers to "join the fight for the right to unionize with collective sectoral bargaining agreements." That is a goal, not something drivers already have.

Why the IDG is a "guild," not a bargaining union

The IDG began in May 2016 under a five-year agreement between Uber and the Machinists union (IAM District 15). Bloomberg's report at the time (republished by Insurance Journal) explained the limit: drivers stayed independent contractors, and "independent contractors are legally prohibited from collectively bargaining." So the guild could speak for drivers, but not sign a pay contract. We could not find a public source saying whether that 2016 agreement was renewed. Today the IDG describes itself as a Machinists Union affiliate whose "primary mission" is to win "the right to collectively bargain" (IDG).

Where your pay rules really come from

Your minimum pay on Uber and Lyft trips comes from TLC's driver pay rule. TLC says these rules "establish a minimum per-trip payment" but "do not establish a minimum wage" (TLC Driver Pay FAQ). See FHV driver minimum pay for the current rates.

Paid sick leave also did not come from a union contract. It came from the Attorney General's 2023 settlements with Uber and Lyft. NYTWA was part of that fight: the AG's press release quotes NYTWA's executive director thanking the Attorney General, who "believed in our complaint" (NY Attorney General). Details: paid sick leave for Uber and Lyft drivers.

What membership gets you

NYTWA lists on its dues page: discount representation for DMV tickets and TLC matters, free legal advice, classes, life insurance, and help applying for low-interest loans, health insurance, disability and workers' comp. It says it fights complaints against garages, brokers, app companies and leasing companies.

IDG says it helps drivers deactivated from Uber or Lyft and offers health and wellness benefits. Its Mental Health and Wellness Program is listed as a Drivers Benefits service paid for by the Black Car Fund, so eligible black car and app drivers can use it (Black Car Fund FAQ).

A side-by-side guide with contacts and office hours is here: NYC driver unions and advocacy groups.

What to do next

1. Decide what you need: help with a specific problem (a summons, a deactivation, a pay dispute) or a voice in campaigns. Both groups say they do both.
2. Read each group's own page before you pay. Dues and services can change.
3. For a pay problem with a base or owner, you can also go straight to TLC's Driver Protection Unit. It is free and does not need membership.
4. If you are still choosing how to drive, compare yellow taxi vs Uber.

Related rules and exceptions

• App drivers are treated as independent contractors for most purposes, which is one reason a bargaining contract does not exist. Some laws treat you differently, for example the Black Car Fund covers you for workers' comp.
• NYC passed a law in 2026 to limit app deactivations, but a federal court blocked it in July 2026. The city has asked the federal appeals court (Second Circuit) to lift that order (MLex, Sept 15, 2026). Until a court rules, a union cannot make the law apply.
• If you have an application in progress, these may help: do I need English for a TLC license? and getting a TLC license with an out-of-state license.