Deliveroo couriers seek to unionise

Couriers working for food delivery service Deliveroo have started taking steps to gain union recognition and workers' rights in the UK.

The move comes after two drivers for taxi service Uber won a tribunal case in which they argued they were workers and not contractors.

A victory at a tribunal for Deliveroo couriers could see thousands of them unionise and receive rights such as paid leave, according to the BBC.

There are currently around 8,000 Deliveroo couriers in the UK and they are classed as self-employed ‘independent contractors'.

They don't receive an hourly rate but are instead paid by delivery.

Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) general secretary Dr Jason Moyer-Lee said it was seeking a collective bargaining agreement to allow the union to negotiate pay and terms and conditions with Deliveroo managers.

He added: "If Deliveroo ignores or rejects our request, then we will take them to tribunal and ask for a declaration that Deliveroo must engage in collective bargaining with us.

"To do this the tribunal will also have to decide that the Deliveroo drivers are workers and not independent contractors, which means they will also be entitled to paid holiday, minimum wage and all the other rights associated with this employment status."

In a statement, Deliveroo told the BBC that it was "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 customers' orders."

Meanwhile, Uber has said it will appeal against the London tribunal ruling that it had acted unlawfully.

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