UvA student to sue Deliveroo
Delivery company Deliveroo wants its bicycle couriers to recast its employees as freelancers. UvA Political Science student and Deliveroo employee Sytze Ferwerda (19) does not agree. He has decided to take legal action against his employer and is currently trying to crowdfund 7.500 euros to pay for the legal proceedings.
What happened, Sytze?
‘I’m going to institute legal proceedings against Deliveroo. The effect of its employees becoming freelancers is that all risks are born by the workforce, and all benefits enjoyed by Deliveroo. I’m calling this “fake independence”. A real freelancer should be able to determine his own price and be able to choose whether or not he wants to work. At Deliveroo you can’t. And most importantly, as a freelancer you’re no longer insured by the employee nor do you receive money towards a pension.’
Won’t you earn more as a freelancer?
‘No. Before, I had an hourly wage plus bonuses and tips. I earned about eight euros an hour. Now I get four euros net per delivery. And you never know how many deliveries you’ll get. Imagine you work three hours and get only one delivery. Then you earn only four euros instead of twenty-four. A guy I know was on the street for four hours without having a single delivery. He earned nothing.’
What action have you taken so far?
‘I’ve had contact with a lawyer to discuss the matter. And I have the support of Deliveroo’s union, the Riders Union, the Dutch Federation of Unions (FNV) and the social democratic party; the PvdA. The PvdA set up a crowdfunding campaign to pay for the legal proceedings.’
