The Illinois Drivers Alliance released a video on April 1 calling on legislators to prioritize people over robots as Waymo tests autonomous vehicles in Illinois.
The group said that the introduction of self-driving cars by Waymo could displace hundreds of thousands of drivers, many of whom live in disadvantaged communities and rely on rideshare work for economic stability. The alliance called for lawmakers to focus on protecting human jobs rather than advancing automation in the transportation sector.
“The Illinois Drivers Alliance posted the video on X to highlight concerns facing rideshare drivers as autonomous vehicle technology advances in the state. The content addresses the introduction of self-driving cars by Waymo in the Chicago area and the potential effects on human drivers who provide rideshare services throughout Illinois. The group works to represent drivers organizing for improved working conditions and pathways to unionization,” according to the Illinois Drivers Alliance on X.
Illinois is home to an estimated 100,000 Uber and Lyft drivers who could be impacted by the expansion of autonomous vehicles, according to legislative discussions around unionization bills. Many of these drivers operate in disadvantaged communities where rideshare work serves as a key source of income and economic stability for families. A report from Capitol News Illinois highlighted the role of these drivers in the state’s transportation network and ongoing efforts to support their bargaining rights as reported by Capitol News Illinois.
National data shows more than 2 million rideshare drivers across the United States, with Uber and Lyft reporting over 1 million drivers earned more than 10 billion dollars on the platform last year. Studies indicate that widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles could affect hundreds of thousands of these positions as companies like Waymo expand operations in major cities. The economic contributions from rideshare drivers include significant tax revenue and support for local economies in urban areas according to MakeMyReceipt.
The Illinois Drivers Alliance is a coalition working with SEIU Local 1 and IAM Local 701 to secure a legal pathway to unionization and improve pay and working conditions. The group advocates for policies that protect driver livelihoods and invest in human labor rather than full automation in transportation according to its website.
