Uber Eats couriers brought traffic to a halt outside the company’s UK headquarters for the second day in a row in a protest about pay.
Motorcyclists, estimated to number more than 100, blocked the road outside Aldgate East station in central London on Thursday afternoon after they said the company cut the minimum delivery rate for riders on Wednesday.
Riders said the minimum per-delivery rate had been reduced from £4.26 to £3.50 and demanded a guaranteed minimum of £5 for London couriers.
The strikers chanted “No money and no food” and sounded their horns. Some attempted to confront individuals believed to be members of Uber Eats’s management outside the office before setting off in a procession towards Parliament Square.
This is what #UberEats couriers standing up for themselves looks like. 🚴♂️😍🛵 #solidarityforever pic.twitter.com/WgL9Ly4o5d
— IWW Couriers Network (@IWW_Couriers) September 20, 2018
Christopher, a courier from the IWW Couriers Network, who did not wish to give his full name because of fears he would lose work, said it was a wildcat strike but the IWW as well as the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) were supporting the workers.
“These aren’t outrageous terms [they’re asking for],” he said. They just want to be paid a fair wage so they can afford to eat and pay rent.”
As well as causing disruption in the heart of the City, the strike also affected deliveries, with customers complaining on social media that orders through Uber Eats had been delayed or cancelled.
@UberEats hi. I have ordered with you guys however when calling the store to see where it is ive been told that the drivers are on strike???? Why has money been taken out of my account if uber eats drivers are no longer delivering food? Whats going on pls explain.
— sue (@imrsulaykha) September 20, 2018
@UberEats @Uber_Support your service sucks. I had to be told ONE HOUR LATER after ordering my food that UberEats are on strike, how was I supposed to know this information with nothing written on the app? You’ve also still taken my money. Bullshit service.
— Nath Wright (@NathWright21) September 20, 2018
An explanation sent by the company to its couriers said the new fare structure would lead to higher rates “at the busiest times and in the busiest places” but accepted “you may receive lower payments outside of typical meal times or in quieter areas”.
An Uber Eats spokesman said: “In response to feedback from couriers we’ve made some changes to our payment structure in London, which brings it into line with other cities. The changes will help increase earnings during busy mealtimes and, as we transition to the new system, we’re introducing minimum payment guarantees of £9 to £11 an hour.”
A spokeswoman for City of London police said its officers had attended the demonstration but no arrests were made.
