Thousands of delivery drivers from Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat are set to walk out this Valentine's Day, from 5pm to 10pm, in protest over low pay and poor working conditions. The strike, organised by grassroots group Delivery Job UK, aims to highlight the ongoing disputes faced by gig economy workers.
Drivers are often classified as self-employed, meaning they are not entitled to the national living wage, currently £10.42 per hour and set to rise to £11.44 in April. Delivery Job UK claims that pay rates have been cut despite high inflation, with drivers reporting unpredictable earnings and a lack of transparency in how fees are calculated.
One organiser told the Guardian: 'It’s very random: we don’t know the algorithm, we don’t know how it’s calculated.' He urged consumers to consider the conditions under which their takeaways are delivered. Data from app Rodeo suggests fees for drivers fell in 2022 and 2023, though Deliveroo declined to provide data.
A Deliveroo spokesman said the company has lowered fees, adding: 'On a Friday night you could make £100 over 4-5 hours, now that’s gone.' He also noted that couriers face violence on the streets, especially in the evenings. Deliveroo, however, maintains it provides flexible work and attractive earnings, with a voluntary agreement stating riders are paid at least the national living wage plus costs while on an order.
Dr Callum Cant from the University of Oxford commented: 'The single problem we have had with these apps over the last few years has been the continual reduction in real wages.' The strike is expected to affect thousands of customers, as 25% of Brits ordered takeout last Valentine's Day.
