"Glovo riders go on strike as European gig workers rise up", 27 August 2021

Glovo riders and dark store workers go on strike in Barcelona today, demanding improvements to working conditions and higher pay from the Spanish quick delivery startup.

Workers, organised by the CCOO and CGT Riders unions, are calling for better insurance for accidents, maternity and paternity pay, increased hourly rates during times of high-demand or bad weather and the option of employment for any worker that wants it.

The final point has been particularly contentious, as many riders have been left disappointed by Glovo’s response to new Spanish legislation, dubbed the Riders’ Law, which recognised platform workers as employees, rather than self-employed workers.

Glovo reportedly had around 12k couriers in March, but has said it only plans to hire 2k of them as staff by the end of the year. The remaining couriers will be kept on as casual workers, subcontracted via employment agencies...

...“The rider law is insufficient,” one representative of CGT Riders told Sifted. “It opens the doors to subcontractors and allows companies like Glovo to continue to employ freelancers in precarious conditions.”...

Glovo declined Sifted’s invitation to respond directly to the unions’ complaints, but sent the following statement:

“At Glovo, we believe in providing the best possible operations experience for our couriers, partners and users. We have always been committed to engaging in an open dialogue with our couriers, whether it is to discuss better conditions and benefits or improving the experience offered through our platform. This is something we take very seriously and it is an important part of our commitment to them.”...