TRANSPORT REFORM UNDENIABLY URGENT AS 13TH FOOD DELIVERY RIDER KILLED: TWU

The transport gig worker community has been rocked by another food delivery rider death in Sydney last night, with workers and the TWU calling on Federal Parliament to urgently pass transport reform to make the industry safer and fairer.

The 13^th food delivery rider known to have died in Australia was killed in Campbelltown at 6pm on Saturday in a crash between a motorcycle and a ute.

The horrific incident occurred just three weeks after another food delivery rider, Akshay Deepak Doultani, was killed.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said food delivery riders need safe working conditions and for the deadly pressures on them to be eased through transport reform.

“The food delivery rider community is in mourning once again. Just three weeks after the tragic loss of Akshay Deepak Doultani, another food delivery rider has died at work. Our thoughts are with the rider’s loved ones at this terrible time.

“Food delivery riders currently have no rights like a safe and fair minimum wage, sick leave, protection against unfair contract terminations, and workers’ compensation in the horrific event something goes wrong.

“While nothing will compensate for the loss of 13 food delivery riders killed, we must act to stop more transport gig worker deaths on our roads, and to ensure all workers have access to safe working conditions and workers’ compensation for themselves and their families.

“Lifesaving reform to set fair, safe and sustainable standards in transport, including for gig workers, will soon be before Federal Parliament. This is literally life or death urgency – we call on every parliamentarian to pass this reform into law without delay,” he said.

Last week, nationwide industry convoys involving 1,000 workers, transport employers and industry groups from across the transport industry including dozens of food delivery riders and rideshare drivers, called for transport reform.

In the last year, the TWU has signed charters with DoorDash, Uber and Menulog calling for reform to set standards in transport.

A McKell survey of over 1,000 transport gig workers revealed roughly half earn less than minimum wage, and 56 per cent of food delivery riders feel pressured to rush to make enough money and avoid losing their job.

This year, rideshare driver Scott Cabrie was murdered. Two weeks ago another rideshare driver, Jason King, was brutally bashed with hammers, requiring surgery.