Foodora Couriers, CUPW Protest at Foodora HQ

TORONTO - Today at 3 PM, Foodora Couriers and CUPW staged a safe, physically distanced protest at Foodora Canada’s headquarters.

This protest comes as a response to Foodora abruptly announcing earlier this week that it would be exiting the Canadian market. The Canadian company is claiming financial trouble, yet Foodora’s parent company, Delivery Hero, boasted this week about a near doubling of their year over year revenue in their first quarter.

This decision from Foodora and Delivery Hero comes just 2 months after Foodora couriers became the first gig workers in Canada to win the right to unionize.

“Couriers are working through the pandemic, helping flatten the curve, and now they have two weeks’ notice and no certainty of financial relief. One day we were essential and the next, we were disposed of” says courier Iván Ostos. “This campaign has been about showing the world that we're fighters and everyone deserves better. I'm proud of that”

Foodora couriers have no guarantee of Record of Employment and, for some, no certainty of access to government supports.

Couriers are demanding 1) Foodora’s parent company Delivery Hero reverse this decision and respect workers rights, 2) Compensation for all workers for the loss of work, wages and infringement of statutory rights, 3) For the government to intervene and not to allow Foodora to walk away from their responsibility to essential workers in the middle of a pandemic.

“The global labour movement is determined to take on the gig economy, and the workers are rising and inspiring our efforts,” said Jan Simpson, CUPW National President. “The workers are developing a collective voice to stand up for their rights. Delivery Hero and other gig employers can’t hide. We must organize this growing form of work so that giant tech employers don’t continue to think they can exploit workers, market by market, and then turn their back and deny their responsibilities.”

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For more information or media requests, contact: media@cupw-sttp.org