24 May 2024 , 08:56
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Deliveroo drivers have condemned their employers over "soul-destroying" working conditions, prompting a protest during the company's annual general meeting (AGM).
Several members of the Brazilian, Bengali, Romanian and British rider communities arrived for a demonstration outside the offices of White & Case law firm in London on Thursday, coinciding with the AGM. Protesters held aloft signs reading: "Justice for riders" and "Riders suffer, bosses profit" to the soundtrack of loud percussion instruments.
This was followed by a motorcade demonstration, where they blared their horns and displayed their posters while driving en masse through the City of London. The drivers say that Deliveroo has continually sidestepped them regarding substandard pay and job security amid rising fiscal challenges.
Since they are recognized as self-employed contractors, employers aren't legally obligated to pay app-based delivery drivers the statutory national living wage of £11.44 an hour. While drivers receive payment per order including a variable distance charge, numerous complaints have been raised about the lack of transparency in how these fluctuating rates are calculated.
Inside the meeting, chief executive Will Shu and the board found themselves confronted by driver representatives, supported by responsible investment charity ShareAction and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB). Union spokespeople noted that most of the queries came from the drivers only to be met with what they dubbed as "bog-standard" answers from the board.
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Deliveroo partnered with the GMB union in 2022, vowing to raise the guaranteed pay rate to £12 an hour when delivery drivers are delivering orders, and additionally, cover vehicle expenses. However, Matthew Toun, a Deliveroo driver from Reading has voiced concerns that their pay will effectively fall drastically beneath £12 due in part to various factors, like extended wait times at restaurants or traffic congestion, which often increase the time it takes to complete a delivery.
Mr Toun, who has been a Deliveroo rider for over half a decade, said: "We have seen a steady real-term decrease (in pay) year on year." He disclosed he uses his earnings as a driver to supplement the income from his bicycle shop and help support his family, but condemned the harsh conditions they face: "Our labour is being bid on every day to the lowest paying rider to take that order. But you have no choice. It's soul-destroying,".
"I have high blood pressure and a lot of that is due to stress and that is just down to the anxiety of having to pay the bills," he said, confiding that he currently has a mere £50 to his name in his account.
Celestino Pereira, another driver, originally from Brazil, said: "Everyone is unhappy with the job." He revealed that he saw little recourse to other employment opportunities in London, due to his limited English proficiency. He also confessed that while the pay was initially appealing, recent increases in cost of living have put him and other drivers in a tight spot.
"But everything has increased my rent, my groceries, everything. We are struggling," he said. "Everyone has to work at least 10 hours, sometimes 13 a day, to meet the cost of living. People get sick, I've seen marriages destroyed," he added.
A Deliveroo spokesperson said: "We value dialogue with riders and were grateful to the riders who attended and shared their experiences and questions with the Board today, as well as those who stayed after the meeting to share their feedback with our team."
"Deliveroo offers the flexible work riders tell us they want alongside attractive earning opportunities and protections, including free insurance, sickness cover, financial support when riders become new parents and a range of training opportunities. Rider retention and application rates are high and the overwhelming majority of riders tell us that they are satisfied working with us."