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LAST UPDATE | 14 Feb 2024
DELIVERY WORKERS FOR food apps Deliveroo, UberEats and Just Eat have taken part in strike action today. Dozens of riders gathered at the foot of the Spire on Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
The strike has been in effect since 5pm and is set to go on until 10pm. They joined delivery drivers across the UK and Europe who are partaking in similar action during the same time.
The English Language Students’ Union of Ireland (ELSU), which represents English language students in Ireland, said delivery workers have to “work longer and longer hours to survive economically”.
The ELSU added that drivers are “exposing themselves to more danger and spending less time studying and improving the language most of them came here to learn”.
It also alleged that the minimum payment per delivery is as low as €1 in some instances.
Stand in solidarity with delivery riders worldwide this Valentine’s by boycotting @Deliveroo @JustEatIE and @UberEats who treat their workers with contempt. End this abusive relationship based on coercive control now before they enslave your children with their algorithms. @SIPTU pic.twitter.com/0MX7WrRsMR
— ELSU Ireland (@ElsuIreland) February 13, 2024
Fiachra Ó Luain from the ELSU said Valentine’s Day is the “perfect opportunity to express love and appreciation for our fellow human beings”.
He added: “The plan of these platform companies is to make more and more workers economically vulnerable so that the next generation of workers are wage slaves with zero job security.”
Ó Luain has also called on “couples and individuals alike to make a conscious effort to delete these apps for Valentine’s Day”.
A number of political parties have voiced support for the delivery riders, including Sinn Féian and People Before Profit.
“It is imperative that food delivery platforms engage with delivery riders and their representatives regarding their concerns,” said Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly.
“It is also not realistic for platforms to maintain that workers do not want better pay and conditions when they have spent several years lobbying against EU legislation to improve the position of delivery riders and other platform workers.”
In a statement to The Journal, a spokesperson from Just East said that the “issue has not been brought to the attention of Just Eat Ireland, through our courier or restaurant network”.
“However we take the concerns of all couriers extremely seriously,” said the spokesperson. “Their welfare is important to us, and we welcome their feedback.”
The Just Eat spokesperson added that it “consistently engages with couriers through a number of channels while on a delivery, and offline messaging with courier support”.
Meanwhile, a Deliveroo spokesperson said it “aims to provide riders with the flexible work riders tell us they value, attractive earning opportunities and protections”.
The Deliveroo spokesperson added: “Rider retention rates are high and the overwhelming majority of riders tell us that they are satisfied working with us.
“We are pleased to also be able to offer riders free insurance, sickness cover, financial support when riders become new parents and a range of training opportunities.”
Elsewhere, a spokesperson for Uber Eats said it offers “a flexible way for couriers to earn by using the app when and where they choose”.
“We know that the vast majority of couriers are satisfied with their experience on the app,” they added.
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Imagine having to cook your own dinner instead
@John Fagan: That’s akin to saying they’re coming over here taking our jobs and our women.
@John Fagan: And, it seems that you’re happy with them getting less than the minimum wage.
@Sean O’Doherty: They’re over here as students. So study and stop taking people’s jobs.
@John Fagan: Will indigenous Irish people take up these jobs?
@Stevie Doran: We usually get maybe one or two a week depending. But for the most part we cook our meals
@John Fagan: taking peoples jobs? Would ya give over. Sure they’re not taking our women too?
@Dan Skelton: enabler….
@Stevie Doran: it’s a direct attack on people on the dole.
@Stevie Doran: did somebody say Just Strike
English language schools, the backdoor for illegal immigration into Ireland. The numbers are staggering, particularly from Brazil. None of them adhering to their visas, it’s the most open national border in the world & is being abused with Govt enabling it.
@SV3tN8M4: how can it be illegal immigration if they have visas?
@Jen McC: Plenty of the hard of thinking on here. I mean, “it’s the most open national border in the world is being”, for example. What a guy haha
@SV3tN8M4: wha…
@Jen McC: Student visas,not work visas.
@Jen McC: Illegal in that they don’t adhere to the conditions of their visas, exceed allowed working hours, don’t attend college & overstay the duration of their visas staying on illegally within the country, therefore illegal.
@SV3tN8M4: at least the next Irish generation will be dark and handsome
@SV3tN8M4: at least the next Irish generation will be dark and handsome
Load of nonsense. Little sympathy for these 2 wheel menaces. No regard for pedestrians or other road users at the best of times.
@Matt D: Which road users are not menaces ro pedestrians and other road users though? Motorists seem to mow down and kill elderly pedestrians every week in Ireland and are constantly arrested for speeding and driving under the influence
@eoin fitzpatrick: apart from whataboutery, whats your point?
@Matt D: four wheels good, two wheels bad?
@brian o’leary: all road users are equal, but some are more equal than others?
@eoin fitzpatrick: if these riders were driving cars, he would switch his tune. Eoin is not concerned about rates of pay for these guys, just that they are on bikes going the wrong way down a street
On top of poor working conditions they also have to contend with assaults/attacks by the track suited brigade.
The government are setting up a committee to look into it.
@noel donohue: Hope so. Terrible working conditions.
@noel donohue: another quango for their corrupt buddies
The delivery fee quoted on the app should go the the delivery person in it’s entirety. The apps and restaurants are already making their profit from the food order itself.
@mcleixlip: I’d say if looking to make real money try something else.
Should be banned.
Learn the rules of the road first and change the rights to cyclists who think they are invincible pulling out at red lights crossing junctions like cars don’t exist
@giles wolohan: and for the love of god can we make some effort to regulate basic safety – unreal the number of bike without lights in dark evening winter – then dress in black like ninja – and pull out in front of cars constantly – they seemingly think the boxes on their back make them very visible – the number of times I have dashcam incidents droning around the city this last few months with these and e-scooters – and yet millions spent telling me not to drink and drive – I’d love to see the real statistics for a and e , and accident rate for past 6 months just for Dublin alone to challenge the false narrative that it’s all motorists at fault – plenty of idiots driving cars for sure – but these bikes and e-scooters are out of control
@Dave Hammond: you’re comparing people being irresponsible on bikes, who have killed one person in Ireland since 2000 in an accident, to drink drivers who have wreaked havoc on 1000s of lives over the years and continue to do so?
@eoin fitzpatrick: I think he’s claiming that perhaps many of these cyclists were basically asking for it and the driver gets punished for, coincidentally, being drunk.
@eoin fitzpatrick: no I’m not – that’s how you interpreted my comment – I was pointing out the fact that the millions of ( our money ) is constantly spent on tv ads every year , millions , and the road safety authority messaging is not addressing the current out of control safety issues around cyclists , these riders in the dark with no lights , dark clothing , exceptionally poor road users , including e-scooters – but the messaging tonite in tv will be don’t drink and drive – happy to clarify my point for you – now try grasp it second time around
@Dave Hammond: there are RSA campaigns all the time for cyclists to light up and put on lights.
they spend most of their budget on trying to get motorists to follow the rules because they are the ones killing and maiming themselves and other people every day in ireland.
people on bikes may be a nuisance to you sometimes but they’re not a priority as they’re not really causing any problems.
@giles wolohan: I was nearly killed the other day at a crossing when one of them came speeding through a red light and passed me with about 6 inches to spare.
@eoin fitzpatrick: total arrogance
Great time to start a diet.
Streets will be safe for a while
@Patrick MC Dermott: what does that even mean? Look at the news lately motorists dying all the time and killing pedestrians, not deliveroo drivers.
And all the ones on here cheerleading Uber and their likes a race to the bottom but once it doesn’t cost them they don’t care about society it’s shameful
This situation is due to the capitulation by SIPTU to the Employers— they have for many years joined forces with IBEC. They sold out through the scandalous bench- marking which secured large salary increases for officials and they were given seats on State Boards and Honorary Degrees also. When did you last see SIPTU Officials out in protest?? They care not for workers in the private sector- only their friends in the State Sector. Jim Larkin would turn in his grave at this situation. They should be ashamed!
If they’re not here legally, they should be deported.
Little sympathy at all.
The drug side hustle surely must be helping them make ends meet!
I’d support them more if they followed basic cycle and road safety rules
They striking because they have been told they have to stop at red lights..!
How does it work if you are a delivery driver with these companies. Do you work 40 hours pw or what way does it go.
@Emer Daly: they just get paid by delivery.
@Emer Daly: they are contracted by these companies. They are individual contractors, the ones that actually own their own accounts. They can select and choose which orders to accept or reject.
@MJP: They set their own hours
@Emer Daly: You pick whatever time you want to work. You open the app and select the region to work in. You’ll see delivery orders coming in, how much they are and where they are going. You choose which one you want to do and accept it. You go to the restaurant be say im here to pick up order ABCD1234. Deliver it to the address, and get a pin from the customer as proof. Then you get paid a couple euro for the delivery. Can expect to deliver around 4 or 5 per hour. Can work as much as you want but its basically minimum wage.
@Martin Mongan: it says some as paid only 1euro in some instances so to make a decent wage a day how many deliveries woukd you have to do ? Do some get 5euro 10euro per delivery?
@Emer Daly: I’m not 100% sure how they work it out I assume whatever the delivery fee is what they get.
@Martin Mongan:
Unfortunately Martin they don’t get it all various deductions before the guy is paid.
The spokesperson choice of word must be some corporate person who will never have to deliver food for living. I also doubt he is non English first language.
Fantastic people doing a great job no many Irish people want to do.
Also heroes as they have to work under constant assault by thugs.
Incredible how racists and people on welfare dare to criticise them.
Hopefully they get the outcome they want
Couldn’t see any of them, once it got dark; not a single bike with a light or reflector and usually wearing black clothing. Im surprised there are not more accidents. It should be a legal requirement to have lights for anything using the road., front and back. The boxes should all be reflective as well (PPE).
I was wrongfully accused of fraud by Uber when I tried to sign in to the driver app, and do the facial verification. I asked them why I was banned, and just accused me of fraud and permanently banned me.
That has to be piss take holding a poster which is made up of tri color. I’m discussed to see that.
@james dooley: Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument an exchange of ignorance.
There is close to zero unemployment in Ireland for those who want to work so plenty of jobs about. Maybe just go do something different.
Random comment about something or other that has nothing whatsoever to do with the featured article…
And the 1s who decided not to strike made a holy fortune ;-)
Sure aren’t they all self employed PLC’s doing that work. Must be minted. Three grand a week minimum. Let the good times role!
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