States Act to Bolster Labor Rights for Gig and Cannabis Workers Amid Federal Gaps
Several U.S. states are actively pursuing legislation to expand collective bargaining rights for workers traditionally excluded from federal labor protections, such as Uber drivers, cannabis workers, and farmworkers. This renewed push by union-friendly legislatures aims to create state-level safeguards against perceived weaknesses in federal labor law enforcement and coverage gaps under the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). New laws in California, Illinois, and Massachusetts have established state-supervised systems allowing approximately 1 million ride-hail drivers to collectively bargain, an option federal law denies them as independent contractors. Lawmakers in Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington are also considering similar proposals. These state efforts are partly a response to doubts about the NLRB's effectiveness, particularly after President Trump's return to office and the subsequent period in 2025 when the NLRB operated without a quorum. Federal courts have, however, largely blocked some o...
