(Bloomberg) — Uber Technologies Inc. has agreed to start a guild for 35,000 drivers in New York that will give members new protections and benefits but not create a fully fledged union.

All current and future Uber drivers will be represented by the Independent Drivers Guild, a newly created affiliate of the International Association of Machinists District 15 (IAM), according to a statement from the union. Under terms of the five-year contract with San Francisco-based Uber, drivers will have a higher standard of protections and support than other independent contractors.

"Forming this guild is crucial for thousands of drivers who need a stronger voice and gives organized labor an opportunity to shape the new economy," James Conigliaro Jr., the founder of the Independent Drivers Guild, said in the statement.

Monthly meetings with drivers

According to the terms of the agreement, Uber's management will hold monthly meetings with drivers to discuss problems and possible solutions. The workers will also have access to benefits including life and disability insurance, roadside assistance and education courses. Drivers in the city who get banned by Uber, known as "deactivation," will also have the ability to appeal some of these decisions and can request guild representation during the process.