Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat riders are set to strike on Valentine’s Day in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
The industrial action, which will include 3,000 delivery drivers, is expected to take place between 5pm and 11pm on February 14.
The strike, organised by a grassroots group of couriers, is intended to draw attention to what has been described as poor pay and working conditions that many riders face while delivering food and groceries in cities across the UK.
Delivery Job UK claims that riders are braving the “cold, rain and absurd distances” for deliveries paying “ridiculous values” ranging from £2.80 to £3.15.
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Deliveroo drivers want this figure to increase to a minimum of £5. Other apps use different pricing policies.
The delivery firm told the BBC: “Riders always earn at least the National Living Wage, plus vehicle costs, for the time they are working with us, though the vast majority earn far more than this.
“Riders are also automatically insured for free, covering them if they are in an accident or injured while working, and receive income protection if they are unwell and cannot work.”
Just Eat said it provided “a highly competitive base rate to self-employed couriers and also offer[s] regular incentives to help them maximise their earnings”.
“We continue to review our pay structure regularly and welcome any feedback from couriers.”
The strikes are set to cause disruption across the retail sector on what is one of the busiest days of the year for on-demand delivery firms.
Last week, Ann Summers revealed it had teamed up with Deliveroo to offer a selected range of sexual wellness products on-demand in the run up to Valentine’s Day.
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