Deliveroo Riders Aren’t Happy About Proposed Changes to Their Pay

Founded by a former investment banker who got tired of fueling late nights at the office with snacks from Tesco, Deliveroo has become one of the UK's most successful startups, making its millions by providing a delivery service for restaurants that don't have their own couriers.

In major cities across the UK, legions of riders transport takeaway meals at almost all hours, wearing distinctive, kangaroo-adorned uniforms.

But a week after Deliveroo announced that it had raised £212 million from investors to fund further expansion, it seems those "Roo" riders are less happy about their finances.

Yesterday, more than 100 Deliveroo riders gathered outside the startup's head office in London's Soho to protest changes to wage structure they say will result in lower pay.

Deliveroo, which employs its couriers as freelancers, currently pays £7 per hour, plus £1 per delivery. It now wants to start paying riders on commission, offering £3.75 per delivery.

A spokesperson for the firm told the Guardian that this contract change could see riders earn more money. They said: "Along with this increased flexibility, we've seen average hourly fees for riders in previous trials rise to more than 2.1 times the previous payment model at our busiest times."

Deliveroo riders, however, say that they are already earning less than national living wage (currently set at £7.20 an hour) when insurance and fuel costs are deducted from their pay, and the move away from the hourly wage would make things even worse.

One protester, Amir Ali, told the Guardian: "£7 an hour was OK and if you worked hard, it was good. But now they are cutting it below the basic wage. We work in snow, we work in rain. They don't give you a place to sit down."

Many at yesterday's demonstration called on Deliveroo to raise riders' pay to £8 per hour, plus £1 per delivery and the cost of fuel for moped riders.

It's not the first time the working conditions of Deliveroo riders have been called into question. Critics point to the lack of sick pay offered by the company, especially in cases where couriers become injured on the road. One former Deliveroo rider told MUNCHIES of being knocked off his bike by a cab, and left "laying in the road clutching my wrist."

Deliveroo couriers have been asked to sign additional clauses to their contracts agreeing to the wage structure changes. Employment lawyer Michael Newman told the Guardian that if workers "haven't signed the new contracts, then the old contracts still apply," but that ultimately, Deliveroo could fire people and hire others who do agree to the new terms.

Only time will tell what those Roos decide to do.