Gig economy

Blinkit

A new pay scheme introduced by Blinkit, a quick-delivery grocery service in India, has sparked protests by delivery workers across several cities, reports Peoples Dispatch.

Hundreds of truck drivers and their vehicles converged on Parliament House in Canberra demanding transport industry safety rules. Jim McIlroy reports.

Isaac Nellist argues that the Fair Work Commission's ruling that a Deliveroo rider was unfairly dismissed is an important win for gig workers in their ongoing fight to be recognised as employees.

Dean Imperial as Ray, a worker just trying to get by in the sardonic gig-economy altern

Barry Healy reviews Lapsis, a sci-fi film in which gig economy workers are manipulated into competing with each other — and with robots — to make a living.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, food delivery companies’ profits were skyrocketing, as their “self-employed” workers are blocked from unionising, reports Taroa Zúñiga Silva.

A federal committee looking into insecure work has received submissions from a range of workers' organisations as well as the big gig corporations. Jim McIlroy and Markela Panegyres report. 

As COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out and lock downs and economic crisis measures wind up, the federal government is painting a rosy view of the economic recovery. But, as Neville Spencer argues, this is far from the reality for millions of casual and insecure workers.

The rapid growth of the gig economy has swelled the coffers of the international tech giants. Isaac Nellist reports on the growing push to end the exploitative business model which allows individuals to receive little pay while braving dangerous work conditions.

Vigil for delivery riders

The deaths of five food delivery riders in just two months prompted unions organise a vigil outside the Sydney HQ of Uber Eats, reports Jim McIlroy.

The federal government and employers are using the pandemic recession to further undermine job security and employment conditions. Graham Matthews argues that their “increased flexibility” is our growing insecurity.

"Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice To change true rules for odd inventions."

William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, 1593.

On May 21 Australian Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt introduced a small but potentially significant private member's bill into the House of Representatives.

The Transport Workers’ Union joined the ACTU, Victorian Trades Hall and Unions NSW on January 31 to launch a campaign for the rights of food delivery riders.

The campaign called for urgent regulation of the industry after a survey showed three quarters of food delivery riders are paid below the minimum award wage and have no sick leave.