Washington DC Weighs Autonomous Vehicle Bill as Uber and Labor Unite Against Waymo Expansion

The Washington DC Council is deliberating a bill titled the "Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act," which would permit the widespread use of autonomous vehicles to transport passengers and goods across the district. The proposed change has drawn intense concern from labor unions, with primary worries centered on the impact of autonomous driving technology on driver wages and employment opportunities. According to the latest data, approximately 35,000 people in Washington DC work in gig driving roles, accounting for about 9% of the local workforce, though most of these positions are part-time. Against the backdrop of the district's metropolitan area losing more than 100,000 jobs in a year due to federal layoffs, robotaxis have become a focal point of contention.

Uber has taken a stance aligned with labor unions in this legislative debate. Harry Hartfield, Uber's director of policy for autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence, testified at a public hearing in mid-July that while he supports the deployment of autonomous vehicles, the bill overlooks the issue of workforce transition. He noted that in San Francisco and Los Angeles, drivers competing with fully autonomous fleets have seen declines in utilization and income, citing research that "one autonomous vehicle in California now does roughly the work of four drivers." Uber established an autonomous solutions division in February of this year and plans to invest $7.5 billion over the coming years in robotaxi fleet development, with an additional $2.5 billion allocated for equity investments in other autonomous driving developers.

The alliance between Uber and labor unions is not limited to Washington DC. In New Jersey, Uber lobbyists have pushed for legislation requiring that all platforms offering robotaxi services must have human drivers complete 85% of ride-hail work within the next three years. This position stands in stark contrast to Uber's history, as the company has long clashed with unions over issues such as employment classification, arbitration procedures, and working conditions. In 2020, Uber spent more than $59 million lobbying on California's Proposition 22, which ultimately overturned a state law classifying app-based drivers as employees—a move that drew sharp criticism from union leaders.

Uber's relationship with Waymo is evolving. Uber is exploring ending its partnership with Waymo, which has allowed Waymo to offer ride-hail services through the Uber platform since 2023. Uber argues that a mandated mixed network is the only practical path to a larger-scale transition to autonomous driving; otherwise, driver-operated vehicles would be almost immediately phased out entirely.

Waymo holds a different view on the legislation. Its public comments suggest that the Washington DC bill would not restrict mixed networks, and it argues that external forces should not determine whether a particular market adopts a mixed model; rather, passengers should have the choice. A Waymo spokesperson welcomed amendments that clarify that different network types can operate in the district. The company remains optimistic about its expansion prospects in the district, with Matthew Walsh, regional head of public policy, expressing anticipation for working with the council and local stakeholders. Earlier this month, Waymo stated that if the bill is approved, it plans to hire several hundred new employees in the district.

Labor unions remain cautious about both Uber's and Waymo's positions. A spokesperson for ATU Local 689 said that autonomous vehicle expansion in the district would lead to hundreds or even thousands of job losses, and that single-occupancy autonomous vehicles would exacerbate traffic congestion.