Marc Berman, an assembly member of the California State Assembly, said that the passage of AB 1340 and SB 371 will provide rideshare drivers with a stronger voice in shaping the gig economy while improving affordability for Californians. This statement was made in a press release.
“This is a huge deal for hundreds of thousands of California workers and millions of California consumers,” said Berman, Assemblymember. “Rideshare drivers are the backbone of the gig economy. AB 1340 rightfully provides these drivers with a role in deciding the future of an industry for which they are taking on the risk, getting on the road, and working long hours. With the strength of a union, workers can build a fair and sustainable gig economy that works for everyone.”
In 2025, California lawmakers advanced two major bills—AB 1340 and SB 371—intended to reshape the gig economy through a combination of labor rights expansion and affordability protections. According to the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, AB 1340, authored by Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks and Marc Berman, would allow rideshare drivers to unionize and collectively bargain. Meanwhile, SB 371, authored by Senator Christopher Cabaldon, would reform insurance requirements for transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft to lower costs for riders. The Governor’s office said that the package was designed to balance worker empowerment with consumer affordability, reflecting both labor union demands and company concerns.
California is home to one of the largest rideshare workforces in the country, with estimates of more than 800,000 active drivers. A September 2025 committee analysis from the California Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement noted that AB 1340 would extend collective bargaining rights to this group. This represents the most significant expansion of worker representation since the 1975 Agricultural Labor Relations Act. The report also emphasized the scale of potential unionization given the number of Californians who rely on Uber, Lyft, and other platforms for primary or supplemental income.
Affordability trends remain a central challenge for California’s gig economy, with rideshare fares rising faster than inflation. According to data from Gridwise’s 2025 Gig Mobility Report cited by the Los Angeles Times, median Uber and Lyft fares increased by 7.2% year-over-year in 2024 to $15.99. More than 70% of surveyed consumers said they would reduce or stop using rideshare if prices climb further. These findings highlight why California’s SB 371 explicitly tied insurance reforms to affordability as lawmakers feared higher compliance costs would otherwise exacerbate fare hikes.
Berman is a Democratic legislator serving in the California State Assembly representing the 23rd District, which includes southern San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County. According to his official Assembly biography, he was first elected in 2016 and now chairs the Assembly Business and Professions Committee with additional service on committees including Elections and Governmental Organization. His policy priorities span election reform, technology governance, consumer affordability, and public safety.
