Thekabarnews.com—Drivers for ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft celebrated a historic labor win Tuesday. Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to officially recognize a union for app-based drivers.

Labor advocates called the decision a major milestone in the emerging push to organize gig-economy workers. Many of these workers are still classified as independent contractors under federal labor law, rather than traditional employees.

The certification is likely to have repercussions far beyond Massachusetts. Furthermore, it could provide a blueprint for similar organizing drives springing up across the United States.

Labor groups have increasingly targeted ride-hailing and delivery platforms in states such as California and Illinois. In these states, workers are seeking better protections and more bargaining power.

The win comes as many drivers become increasingly uncertain about pay and job security. Moreover, they are concerned about the rapid evolution of autonomous vehicle technology.

Self-driving technology could dramatically change the future of ride-hailing services, making labor protections a growing concern for drivers.

Drivers gathered outside the Massachusetts State House to celebrate the announcement. They waved signs and chanted their support for the union effort.

It was one of the most decisive victories in organizing by private-sector workers in modern American history, labor leaders said.

Some organizers likened the moment to key labor milestones. These milestones helped transform industrial workplaces over the course of the twentieth century.

For many drivers, however, the victory has more to do with their everyday economic woes than with history.

Jean Fredo has been driving for Uber for over seven years. He said he hopes union representation will result in better pay, stronger protections against sudden account deactivation, and more financial stability.

“Being in the union will make us feel like we’re working for something,” Fredo said through a translator, as cited in APNews.

“The money will not just be going into the billionaire’s pocket. The money will actually go to the workers who work very hard,” he added.

The gig economy has grown rapidly over the past decade. It has provided millions of workers around the world with flexible earning opportunities.

But it also has sparked heated debate over worker rights, benefits, health care coverage, paid leave, and collective bargaining.

In general, Uber and Lyft have argued that the independent contractor status provides the flexibility that many drivers want.

Labor groups, meanwhile, argue that app-based workers need more protections and a bigger say in setting the terms of work.

The Massachusetts decision is likely to fuel such debates nationally. The ruling could inspire lawmakers and labor groups in other states to seek similar models for organizing workers outside traditional employment structures.

The union win in Massachusetts could signal a shift in the way technology platforms relate to the workers who keep them running. This is happening as the gig economy evolves along with artificial intelligence and self-driving transportation.

The decision is a major victory for ride-hailing drivers nationwide seeking more representation in a fast-growing sector of the modern economy.

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