The labour law body the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) has ruled that Deliveroo riders are self-employed. In response, the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which brought the case, accused the firm of ‘gaming the system’.
The latest instalment in the long-running battle for workers’ rights in the gig economy came about after Deliveroo refused to recognise the IWGB as a union representing drivers in Camden and Kentish Town.
The IWGB position was that riders should be entitled to minimum wage and holiday pay.
The BBC reports that the CAC’s decision hinged on changes to Deliveroo riders’ contracts made shortly before the tribunal – the most significant being that riders were allowed to bring in someone to cover their work.
The ruling said that this particular aspect of the relationship between Deliveroo and its riders was “fatal to the union’s claim.”
“The central and insuperable difficulty for the union is that we find that the substitution right to be genuine, in the sense that Deliveroo have decided in the new contract that riders have a right to substitute themselves both before and after they have accepted a particular job; and we have also heard evidence, that we accepted, of it being operated in practice.”
The new contract also removed performance monitoring and a requirement for riders to wear Deliveroo-branded clothing – both elements that could be seen as differentiating between workers and self-employed contractors.
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Jason Moyer-Lee, the IWGB general secretary, said: “It seems that after a series of defeats, finally a so-called gig economy company has found a way to game the system.
“On the basis of a new contract introduced by Deliveroo’s army of lawyers just weeks before the tribunal hearing, the CAC decided that because a rider can have a mate do a delivery for them, Deliveroo’s low-paid workers are not entitled to basic protections.”
Dan Warne, Managing Director for Deliveroo in the UK and Ireland said: "This is a victory for all riders who have continuously told us that flexibility is what they value most about working with Deliveroo.
"As we have consistently argued, our riders value the flexibility that self-employment provides. Riders enjoy being their own boss – having the freedom to choose when and where they work, and riding with other delivery companies at the same time."
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Be good if we could stop his type from breeding, I doubt he will strengthen the gene pool much.
Totally agree with you. If a driver sits behind me for a long time because it's not safe to pass or a look over my shoulder is enough to make a...
Think of a number, the list price, and double it?
This makes some sense as the parent will spend a huge amount of time carrying the thing....
*not Lancs, obviously Lord be praised! Perhaps the message is getting through
Just because he shares a program with a dinosaur doesn't necessarily mean he's one too...
"but they call it Artex" Isn't that what people used to paint their ceilings with?
Clearly not "Europe" now anyway!
Where are the colours though? Even the other options are just mehhh. At least you wouldn't need to worry about them getting washed out.
All that is being requested of drivers is they put their phones away before operating dangerous equipment in public spaces. Yes, that means...