News / Strike
‘These companies are worth billions of pounds – but without us, they’re just apps’
Food delivery couriers for Deliveroo and Uber Eats staged a strike in Bristol city centre over pay and conditions.
Standing in solidarity with workers across the country, staff for the two companies logged out of their apps from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday and took to the streets to highlight their cause.
Speaking before the strike, a Bristol courier, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: “They talk about paying above minimum wage, but the reality is a lot of couriers make less in a shift, because there aren’t enough orders, there are too many other riders being hired, and the travel distances increase with no or little rise in pay.
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“They’ve been cutting pay and changing our conditions without consulting us for ages and we’ve had enough.
“At the end of the day, these companies are worth billions of pounds. But without us, they’re just apps. We do the dangerous and insecure work that generates their profits and all we’re asking for is fairer pay so we can afford to get by.”
Uber Eats has defended its pay scheme, arguing that the majority of its couriers used delivery work to supplement existing incomes.
In a statement to the BBC, the company said: “Last week, couriers using our app in cities across the UK took home an average of £9-10 per hour during mealtimes, with many also using other delivery apps.”
The strikes were supported by independent unions IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) and IWGB (Independent Workers Union of Great Britain).
Photo by Nathalie Schenk
Photo by Nathalie Schenk
Photo by Thomas Katan
Photo by Thomas Katan
Photo by Thomas Katan
Film by Nathalie Schenk. Main photo by Thomas Katan.
Read more: Deliveroo and Uber Eats staff to strike in Bristol
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