Shares up 3% as Deliveroo riders strike

DELIVEROO riders went on strike over pay and conditions yesterday as the delivery firm’s shares recovered slightly following last week’s disastrous debut.

About 400 couriers took part in socially distanced protests in cities including London, York, Sheffield, Reading and Wolverhampton.

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said its members are calling for improvements to pay, employment rights and safety protections. Supportive action was expected in Australia, France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain, the union added.

It came as Deliveroo’s shares increased by three per cent to 290p before edging back in their first fully open day of trading on the London Stock Exchange. Last week shares plunged by around 30 per cent amid investors’ concerns over workers’ rights and company profits.

The riders’ action follows recent campaigns by those in the gig economy to be classed as workers and so receive better pay and conditions.

Unions won legal action recently against ride hailing firm Uber. IWGB president Alex Marshall said: ‘Deliveroo presents a false choice between flexibility and basic rights but the Uber ruling showed that, here as well as abroad, workers can have both.’ Deliveroo rider Greg Howard said: ‘I’ve seen conditions decline for years and then working through lockdown I contracted Covid-19 and got very little support.’ Deliveroo said it surveyed 8,500 riders on Tuesday and 89 per cent were happy working for the company. ‘This small self-appointed union does not represent the vast majority of riders,’ a spokeswoman added.