Sheffield deliveroo workers strike in pay and conditions dispute
The union said they want the living wage, safety protections and rights including access to holiday and sick pay
Last updated 7th Apr 2021
Workers at the delivery firm Deliveroo are going on strike in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Socially distanced protests are being held in cities including Sheffield, London, York, Reading and Wolverhampton on Wednesday 7th April.
The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said its members are calling for decent pay as well as improved employment rights and safety protections.
The union said supportive action was expected in Australia, France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain.
The action follows recent campaigns by those in the gig economy to be classed as workers and so receive better pay and conditions.
Unions won legal action recently against ride hailing firm Uber.
Alex Marshall, president of the IWGB and a former bicycle courier, said:
"Deliveroo presents a false choice between flexibility and basic rights but the Uber ruling showed that, here as well as abroad, workers can have both.
"That is the least they deserve and what the public expects for our frontline workers.''
Greg Howard, a Deliveroo rider and an official of the IWGB, said:
"I'm going on strike for my basic rights and those of all the other riders struggling to get by and support families on Deliveroo poverty pay.
"I've seen conditions decline for years and then working through lockdown I contracted Covid-19 and got very little support.
"After the pandemic more people than ever understand this exploitation is no way to treat anyone, let alone key workers."
A Deliveroo spokesperson said:
"This small self appointed union does not represent the vast majority of riders who tell us they value the total flexibility they enjoy while working with Deliveroo alongside the ability to earn over £13 an hour.
"Only today we ran a survey and 88% of riders said that they were happy with the company and flexibility was their priority.
"We are proud that rider satisfaction is at an all-time high and that thousands of people are applying to be Deliveroo riders each and every week.
"Riders are at the heart of our business and today we are beginning a new consultation with riders about how we should invest our new £50m community fund."
Full trading in Deliveroo shares began on Wednesday, although some investors have voiced concerns over workers' rights.