IWGB

Some articles about struggles involving the IWGB union, initially courier strikes.

"We need to recognise our power"

Parirs Dixon (far left above), courier driver and chair of Sheffield IWGB, on Northern couriers' struggle for their rights . As soon as Stuart introduced the new “linear pay” structure, we told them we were going to strike. They delayed it, but as soon as they brought it back, we did what we said we were going to do. That was 6 December. I’ve been in the IWGB more than two years, but this is my first strike. However, I’ve been central to it. I think getting a union involved is absolutely, 100%, the right thing to do. It gives you power. That’s why we’ve been able to have the longest gig...

Striking to tame "gig economy" bosses

On Sunday 30 January, a strike by couriers working for Just Eat and Stuart Delivery was on its 36th day. Drivers in Sheffield and other cities are organising daily pickets and protests to fight off the 24% cut in their base rate of pay that Stuart implemented late in 2021, while their own revenues doubled and their top executive enjoyed a 1,000% pay increase, taking his remuneration to £2,000,000. On that day, drivers sprung a surprise action against a large, busy McDonald’s drive-thru in the Woodseats area of Sheffield, blocking off the drive-thru entrance with a pair of large jeeps and...

"If you want to change things, don't be scared"

Sheffield courier and IWGB union activist Raja Khan (aka Iky) on the Northern couriers' fight . I’ve been working for Stuart for four years. I was a senior driver and team leader for the company. I’ve decided to turn against them and take part in the strike! I joined the IWGB at the start of the dispute. Particularly in an industry like this, workers are really hit hard by loss of earnings, which is why we decided, rather than shutting everything down, to target businesses really important to Stuart. That’s why we’ve targeted McDonald’s. It’s impacted them – they know they’ve got a problem –...

Learn from the Just Eat strikers

On 23 January over 100 people ralled in Sheffield in support of the ongoing strike by couriers working for Stuart Deliveries and Just Eat. These couriers are striking against a 24% cut in their base rate of pay, which Just Eat’s delivery subcontractor Stuart implemented in late 2021. So far workers have taken more than 30 days of strike action, and the strike has spread from Sheffield into other towns including Sunderland, Blackpool, Huddersfield and Chesterfield. Alison Brown, a Unison member working in the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, spoke about the things that the rest of the trade union...

Sheffield couriers' strike: "Yes, you can"

JustEat striker Khalil Lange spoke at a Kill the Bill demo in Sheffield on 15 January. “I am a JustEat driver and we have been striking in the city since 6 December. We worked throughout the pandemic; we were delivering prescriptions, food, Apple products to students who were still working from home; we were delivering an awful lot to people who were isolating — we showed up to their doors. “We were happy to keep the country going. We figured when it was all done they were going to respect us. They did not. They cut our money by 24% on the base rate and raised their CEO’s pay by 1,000%. “We...

Sheffield couriers lead pay fight

On Monday 10 January, food delivery drivers in Sheffield working for Stuart Delivery (a contractor serving JustEat) resumed their strike action. Organised in the IWGB union, Sheffield couriers struck for three weeks in December 2021, breaking records with the longest-ever industrial action in the so-called “gig economy” in the UK. Strikes spread to Chesterfield, Blackpool, Huddersfield and Sunderland. Having given their employer a fortnight to respond to their demands, the Sheffield drivers have resumed their action with a number of large and well-respected picket lines at McDonald’s...

Moped courier protest in Bristol

On 5 January 2022 around one hundred food couriers in Bristol, riding mopeds, held a protest against violence and harassment while working. Their expensive vehicles are particularly targeted by thieves, and sometimes while the drivers are riding, which endangers them. As three years ago , this was organised by Brazilian moped couriers, independently of the union. As I wrote then: “Deliveroo[‘s insurance] does not cover the cost of equipment, or of money lost when unable to work because of theft or unrelated illness. “The inaction on behalf of the police is undoubtedly in large part because the...

How we occupied JustEat HQ to support the strikers

One of the activists who took part in the occupation at the JustEat offices in London this week, to support the strike by couriers in Sheffield and other northern towns, explains their solidarity action. Please donate to the strike fund here . For more see IWGB Couriers Sheffield's Twitter . For an interview with IWGB Couriers Sheffield chair Parirs Dixon, see here . The JustEat strike which started in Sheffield three weeks ago is hugely significant – it’s the longest running gig economy strike in UK history and is spreading to other cities. In Sheffield student activists have been very active...

Ethan Bradley, 1993-2021

Ethan Bradley was chair of the national Couriers and Logistics Branch of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) . He passed away in York on 24 November at the age of 28 following a cycling accident, just as members of the organisation he chaired were preparing for the historic action in Sheffield , with his assistance. His funeral was held in York on 14 December. You can read an obituary here . Donate to the funeral fund here .

Support the Sheffield couriers' strike

On Monday 13 December, a meeting of food couriers in Sheffield voted to extend their strike against logistics firm Stuart for another week. Their strike is now the longest and largest in the history of the UK gig economy. Activists in Workers’ Liberty have been helping to build the local couriers’ branch of the IWGB since 2019 and have been centrally involved in this strike from the very start. Drivers in Sheffield and Chesterfield are striking against a 24% cut to their per-delivery base rate made by Stuart, which organises takeaway deliveries for JustEat. Drivers in cities where this new...

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