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The
move comes barely two weeks after a tribunal ruled that taxi app
Uber [UBER.UL] should pay its drivers sick and holiday pay as
well as the minimum wage - a verdict that could affect tens of
thousands of people across Britain.
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) wants
Deliveroo, which is valued at more than $1 billion (80 million
pounds), to recognise it as a union in the Camden area of north
London, in the first stage to boosting pay and conditions.
With their distinctive black and teal jackets, Deliveroo riders
have become a familiar sight on London streets since the firm
started trading in 2013, delivering food from restaurants.
In August, Deliveroo started paying riders per delivery rather
than per hour, which was described as a piecemeal "Victorian
system" by the opposition Labor Party and sparked opposition
from some of its riders.
Deliveroo later apologized and said its riders could opt out of
the new system, although the trials are continuing in areas such
as Camden.
"We want to force Deliveroo into a collective bargaining
agreement with the union so that we can negotiate pay and terms
and conditions for our members," said IWGB General Secretary
Jason Moyer-Lee.
"We want to get them recognized in law as being 'workers', just
like the Uber case," he added.
The gig economy - where individuals work for multiple employers
day-to-day without a fixed contract - relies on the
self-employed, who generally do not receive rights such as the
7.20 pound hourly minimum wage.
In a letter to Deliveroo, seen by Reuters, Moyer-Lee gave the
firm 10 days to respond to the union's request.
A company spokeswoman said on Tuesday: "As Deliveroo continues
to grow, we are committed to providing great opportunities for
UK riders, with the flexible work riders value, and a payment
model which is fair, rewarding and better matches riders' time
with our customers’ orders."
(Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison)
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