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eCourier agrees to 28% pay rise for couriers following union campaign
The campaign for higher wages for cycle couriers run by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain has had its first major success, with eCourier agreeing a 28 percent pay raise for cycle couriers riding for the firm.
The increase will bring eCourier riders into Living Wage territory and will address some of the costs that cycle couriers currently incur in order to keep pedalling every day, including an increase in the weekly bonus cap, free uniforms, and 10p per mile compensation for costs.
This victory by the Couriers and Logistics Branch of the IWGB is the result of a long process combining social media activity, communication with clients of eCourier, and a threatened protest. Negotiations with eCourier were said to have been “difficult” at times, said the IWGB’s Cathal Sheerin.
“We will continue to campaign for better pay and conditions for cycle couriers across the UK,” said Sheerin.
“Our aim is to revolutionise the entire courier industry: in March 2016, we submitted a claim to the Employment Tribunal seeking to challenge the bogus ‘independent contractor’ employment classification of cycle couriers that allows the UK’s largest same-day courier firms to deprive their riders of the minimum wage.”
The claim was brought against CitySprint, eCourier, Addison Lee and Excel Group Services.
“If our claim is successful, it will completely transform the working lives of cycle couriers, making them eligible for the basic rights and benefits that they are currently denied: the minimum wage, paid holidays, and protection from trade union victimisation, among others,” said Sheerin.
The Couriers and Logistics Branch also recently campaigned for the UK’s biggest same-day courier firm, CitySprint, to pay its riders the London Living Wage (£9.40). The campaign achieved a 17 percent pay rise for CitySprint riders, their first pay rise in over a decade.
The IWGB is financing the Employment Tribunal action via crowd-funding.
Well done getting the pay rise . However, the gratitude stops there. I’ve been a courier for decades and like the status quo.if I want to work I work. Ifi feel like not working I can do so without notice. I can then announce my return in the safe knowledge that my job will be there for me.most couriers worth their salt earn way over the living wage. You don’t need to be Bradley Wiggins..a sound knowledge of London and a diligent approach are the only necessary qualities required. Those who don’t make th living wage are either lacking the aforementioned, in which case they need to improve their knowledge in the same way as someone learning a trade does or, they are content to take easy and earn just enough to get by . This is the beauty of the current arrangement. I suspect that those involved in the moves to ‘revolutionise the industry ‘don’t have a clue about why so many of us are attracted to it in the first place. Finally I believe I speak for the vast majority of couriers. Why not ask them youselves before you destroy it.
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