BEERG Newsletter - UK: Gig economy worker issue goes to Supreme Court

In the final stage of a case that started in 2016, the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) was given permission to challenge Deliveroo in the Supreme Court over collective bargaining rights. The case concerns whether the fact that Deliveroo riders may and do use substitutes to make deliveries on their behalf means that they do not have “worker” status. 

That is important because, without it, the Central Arbitration Committee could not consider the IWGB’s application against Deliveroo for trade union recognition.

This appeal will play out against a different context from the earlier appeals in the case as, in May, Deliveroo signed a partnership agreement with the GMB union, based on its riders being self-employed instead of “workers.” The IWGB has heavily criticised that deal for neither addressing many issues that it has with the tech firm’s practices nor reflecting riders’ choice of trade union.