The first strong signs of workers contesting their employment conditions with companies operating as part of the ‘gig’ economy have taken place this summer. They have been spearheaded by a small, independent union, the IWGB. Although allied to legal action and social media campaigns, these actions have essentially been collective withdrawals of labour, namely, strikes. This is what has explained their successfulness.
This summer new, small fledgling unions like the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) and United Voices of the World (UVW) have staged successful collective actions amongst traditionally hard to organise workers. The biggest breakthrough has come amongst couriers and delivery agents in the so-called ‘gig’ or ‘on-demand’ economy, where contractual engagements for work are short-term and workers are not employed as such but hired as self-employed ‘independent contractors’.
As self-employed, the workers are not eligible for sick pay, holiday pay and have to pay their own National Insurance.
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