Food delivery riders are calling on platforms to reveal how their pay is calculated. Riders working for Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat say their earnings have fallen as these companies use more automation. A cyclist named David has worked in Edinburgh for seven years. He reports making half the money he did four years ago, despite working the same hours. He and other riders gathered in Bristo Square to discuss their falling wages. Many have tracked a gradual decline in their pay over several years, even as they continue to deliver similar numbers of orders. The riders blame artificial intelligence systems for their worsening conditions.
The Workers' Observatory is supporting the riders. This charity brings together gig workers and academics from St Andrews and Edinburgh universities. Their goal is to research areas of working life that platforms keep hidden. Xabier Villares, the observatory's lead organiser, has been riding for eight years. He describes a dramatic change in the past three years. Previously, working four or five evenings a week allowed him to cover his rent and living costs. Now this is no longer possible. The group has secured research funding for the next decade.
The riders want transparency about dynamic pricing algorithms. These systems adjust worker pay based on supply and demand in real time. Research from Oxford and Columbia universities found that Uber drivers earned substantially less after a 2023 algorithm change. Drivers from multiple countries have now launched legal action against Uber in Amsterdam. Cailean Gallagher, the observatory's director, notes that platforms conceal extensive data and infrastructure from workers. He aims to help riders understand how these systems operate, so they can challenge their working conditions.