BOSTON - Ride share drivers settled a lawsuit this past summer with ride share companies about receiving minimum wage and benefits for their time driving for Uber and Lyft. But that isn’t the end of their fight. They want the ability to unionize and fellow voters have to approve it first. 

Mahad Omar has been driving for Uber and Lyft for about eight years. He got into it at first because of the flexibility. But in recent years, the companies have been taking bigger percentages from the cost of the ride, causing him, he says, to have to work double the hours for the same money. 

“You have to time to get the money. And I work like almost like 65 [hours] a week or 70,” said Mahad Omar, a rideshare driver. 

The Machinists Union and others have pushed for yes on question 3 on the state ballot this year. They say these drivers need support and a union could help them while negotiating.

“This would be the first state in the union to give workers the ability to unionize under the National Labor Relations Act, under the Trump administration. The drivers get characterized as independent contractors, which would make it illegal for them to unionize without a state law that would allow them to do so,” said Mike Vartabedian, a representative of the Machinists Union. “This would be the first state in the nation, and we hope that it would spread so that these workers could have a voice across the nation.”

This is the only ballot question where there isn’t an explicit campaign running against it, but rather ride share companies have concern with the language in the ballot measure. Lyft told to Spectrum News 1 in a statement:

"While we have no plans to oppose the ballot measure, we do have some concerns about specific aspects of its language and will work collaboratively to address them in the next legislative session, should the measure pass."

Uber echoed the same sentiment, saying they plan to pursue changes through the legislature, but they feel the deal they already agreed to is a good one. 

“While we do have concerns with some of the language in the ballot - and plan to pursue changes via the legislature next session - Uber will not be running a campaign opposing Question 3," a spokesperson for Uber said. "Nearly 80% of Uber drivers support our agreement with Attorney General Campbell from earlier this year. We have no doubt that if drivers choose to organize, they will hold the benefits they’ve already won central to any negotiations and maintaining their flexibility will remain a top priority.”

A "yes" vote would allow drivers the option to unionize. 

A "no" vote would continue to classify them as independent contractors and forbid a union form.