Uber Eats delivery workers on strike to protest pay cut

The new remuneration system has reduced the average salary of people who work for the platform by 10 to 30%, according to the unions.

Several thousand Uber Eats delivery drivers will not be connected to the platform on Saturday December 2 and Sunday December 3. They are called to strike to protest against the change in their remuneration. The system has been managed by an algorithm for three weeks. And the average income of the approximately 60,000 people who work for the platform has fallen by 10 to 30%, according to the Union Indépendants union which is supporting this national strike with the CGT and Sud Commerces & Services.

Vany, a delivery man stationed on the square in front of La Défense, near Paris, confirms that he has seen his remuneration drop. The young man has worked for Uber Eats since 2016, but in recent weeks, he has had to cycle a lot more: “Before when I worked during the day, I earned 150 euros. Now, there are days when making 100 euros is not easy. Now, it happens to me on weekends to work at night between midnight and 3 a.m. in the morning to complete…”laments the young delivery man.

If this continues, the young man is afraid for the months to come and especially next summer: “In August, as they have no volume, the platforms divide the prices by two. Here, we are in the middle of winter. What will happen in the middle of summer? We will have races in a euro? And besides, they sometimes give a second ride for less than a euro. Soon, you’ll have to pay to be able to deliver!” Work more and earn less, Vany, is considering stopping working for Uber Eats.

“Over long distances, they took away a lot of money.”

Jawad, Uber Eats delivery person

at franceinfo

Jawad, who works in Montpellier, in Hérault, he’s also thinking about stopping. He delivers meals by scooter 2 p.m. per day for 1,200 to 1,300 euros per month on average. It mainly performs long journeys, also less well paid since a few weeks. “Between Montpellier and Palavas-les-flots, where the beaches are, it’s about 12 kilometers. Before I earned 12 to 13 euros. Now it’s 7 or 8 euros to get there! And they know that gasoline is 2 euros per liter!” laments the delivery man.

The vagueness of the new calculation algorithm called into question

Vany and Jawad will strike on Saturday and Sunday. These delivery people who demand a minimum price per trip also denounce the total vagueness on this new pricing calculated by an algorithm. Uber Eats responds that it takes better account of the time spent delivering, the wait in front of each restaurant for example, et especially since the goal is not to reduce the average income per race. He has even increased slightly since October 10, assures the platform, contrary to what the unions claim. This new pricing undermines the new social dialogue put in place since 2021 between platforms and delivery unions.