DELIVERY RIDERS PROTEST AHEAD OF FOODORA CREDITORS MEETING

The protest was addressed by delivery rider Fernando, TWU’s Tony Sheldon, Unions NSW’s Thomas Costa and Senator Kristina Keneally.

Today a Foodora creditors meeting also took place with the ATO and Revenue NSW following an investigation into unpaid taxes, wages and superannuation. The TWU represented delivery riders at the meeting, including Josh Klooger, the delivery rider who was sacked by Foodora. Mr Klooger is owed $47,000 by Foodora in unpaid wages and superannuation, according to calculations by the TWU. TWU is calling on other Foodora riders to contact the union so it can make a claim on their behalf for unpaid wages and superannuation.

 “The Federal Government has refused to back taxpayers and food delivery riders, instead choosing to back tech billionaires ripping them off. Foodora is now skipping the country while owing millions. The Government must step in and regulate Deliveroo, UberEats and others to put an end to the exploitation and rorting of taxes,” said TWU’s Tony Sheldon.

"All workers deserve the rights and protections that generations have fought hard for. It is not right that eighteenth century working conditions have been allowed into 2018 Australia via an app. The rest of the community are bearing the brunt of this negligence," Sheldon added.

The TWU has written a letter to the Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations Kelly O’Dwyer calling on the Government to require Foodora to set up a fund to compensate riders for stolen entitlements and unpaid wages and to ensure Foodora pay its outstanding tax bill before it leave. The TWU also wants Federal Government to protect other workers in the on-demand economy.

Hundreds of riders in Sydney and Melbourne have held previous protests earlier this year demanding rights.

A rider survey also found:

• Three out of four riders are paid below minimum rates
• Almost 50% of riders had either been injured on the job or knew someone who had
• Over 70% of riders said they should get entitlements such as sick leave.
• 1 in 4 riders (26%) work full time hours (40+ hours per week)
• 3 in 4 (76%) riders work 20 or more hours per week.
• Over 26% work more than 40 hours a week
• The average age is just under 26 years