TRENTON - SEIU 32BJ worker activists marched on the State Capitol today on behalf

of rideshare drivers, whom they're helping to unionize with allies in the State Legislature, while protecting them against increasing incursions of self-driving vehicles.

"Human drivers, not robots," declared Ana Maria Hill, state director and vice president of SEIU 32BJ. "Labor and unions have built our country. We've unionized janitors, airport workers, and security officers. Now, there are a whole other group of workers out there - rideshare drivers are hungry for a union.

"Today and across the coming year there is going to be legislation to allow autonomous vehicles to come in and take over our jobs," added the labor leader. "When working people are under attack, what do we do?"

"Stand up and fight back," shouted the crowd.

"Across our country, thousands of workers rely on rideshare work to support themselves and their families... rideshare drivers here in New Jersey are facing a growing crisis. drivers earn low pay while shouldering the expense of doing all of the work and of the risk of driving. They are facing the constant attack of deactivation."

Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-36) serves as the legislative point man for enabling legislation, which would conceivably impact 100K rideshare workers in the state of New Jersey.

"It is fundamentally necessary and important that people must have the right to come together to form a union," Schaer told InsiderNJ. "It is fundamental to what we believe in."

For more on this story, see the video below and go HERE for an InsiderNJ interview on this subject with Ana Maria Hill.

32BJ added the following in a press release:

Rideshare drivers joined 32BJ SEIU and IAM members, the App Drivers Union, elected officials, labor leaders and community allies outside the New Jersey State House on Thursday to launch the “I AM HUMAN” campaign and demand union rights and protections for human drivers as companies seek to expand driverless vehicles in New Jersey.

Across New Jersey, an estimated 100,000 drivers rely on rideshare work to support themselves and their families. Drivers at the rally described working long hours while covering the rising costs of gasoline, insurance and vehicle maintenance, often without access to healthcare, paid leave or meaningful protection against sudden deactivation from the apps.

Participants called on state lawmakers to halt S1677, legislation sponsored by Senator Andrew Zwicker that would establish a three-year autonomous vehicle pilot program. They warned that allowing companies such as Waymo to test and eventually operate commercial driverless services could displace thousands of human drivers before workers have secured a voice in determining how automation will affect their livelihoods.

“New Jersey must put workers before Waymo,” said Ana María Hill, New Jersey State Director and Vice President of 32BJ SEIU. “We are not against innovation—but innovation cannot come at the expense of working people. Before Waymo gets a green light in New Jersey, drivers need enforceable union rights and a seat at the table. Technology should serve working people, not replace them.”

Drivers and labor allies also urged lawmakers to advance legislation giving rideshare app-based drivers the right to choose a union and bargain collectively overcompensation, benefits, working conditions and protection against unfair deactivation.

For driver Elizabeth Figueroa Núñez, the need for protections is deeply personal. A single mother of two who has driven for app-based companies for four years, Figueroa Núñez said she was hospitalized after being assaulted by a passenger earlier this year.

“A passenger assaulted me, first struck me in the eye, pulled out a knife and tried to attack me twice with the knife while I was doing my job,” Figueroa Núñez said. “I ended up in the hospital. When I called Uber to report what happened and ask for help, I did not receive the protection or support I needed and instead, Uber deactivated me. I risked my life doing this work, but when I needed the company to stand behind me the most, I was left alone.”

“My children depend on the income I earn as a driver, yet I have no health insurance or real protection when something happens to me,” Figueroa Núñez continued. “We are not machines, we are mothers, fathers and workers. We deserve the right to organize, safe working conditions and protection from unfair deactivation before corporations are allowed to replace us with robot cars.”

“Every day, thousands of New Jerseyans rely on rideshare drivers to get to work, make appointments, and go about their daily lives. That is especially true in places like Passaic, where many do not have access to a car and rely on drivers to get to where they need to go, or depend on driving as their primary source of income. Despite the essential service that rideshare drivers provide to our communities, many are struggling to make ends meet. Without a union, drivers can lose access to their livelihood without warning from companies like Uber or Lyft, with little representation and no transparent process to repeal these decisions. I stand with 32BJ SEIU and rideshare drivers of the App Drivers Union in their demand to create a union for better wages and benefits, better working conditions, and greater respect," said Assemblyman , Gary Schaer.

Drivers held banners reading “I AM HUMAN,” “Drivers Demand Union Rights!” and “NO Robot Cars—Drivers Need Union Rights!” as speakers called on state leaders to address the economic and safety challenges rideshare workers already face before authorizing the expansion of autonomous vehicles.

The rally brought together rideshare and professional drivers, members of 32BJ SEIU, the App Drivers Union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, as well as Make the Road New Jersey, the New Jersey Coalition of Latino Pastors and Ministers and other labor and community partners.

“Human drivers are already struggling for fair pay, healthcare, safety and protection from unfair deactivation,” Hill added. “New Jersey cannot allow their jobs to disappear before they ever receive those basic rights. No robot cars without union rights.”