Delivery drivers for food-ordering platforms including Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat are striking on Valentine’s Day to call for better pay and conditions.

Wednesday’s five-hour walkout is being organised by Delivery Job UK, an umbrella organisation, many of whose members are Brazilian and which claims to have more than 3,000 supporters in London and several other UK cities, according to The Guardian.

The group said on X on Sunday that the industrial action “highlights the growing tensions between gig economy workers and the platforms they work for. As consumers, it’s crucial to consider the conditions under which our conveniences are delivered”.

“Let’s stand in solidarity with those fighting for fair wages and better working conditions,” it said. “It’s more than just a meal at stake – it’s about the dignity and rights of every worker.”

The strike, which will last between 5pm and 10pm, will likely affect thousands of deliveries, as couriers, who normally compete across multiple apps for delivery, refuse to take orders.

In November, the Supreme Court ruled that Deliveroo riders were not “workers”, and could not form a union, following a long-running battle by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain for the right to unionise and bargain on their behalf.

As freelancers, delivery drivers have previously protested over not being entitled to the benefits enjoyed by full-time employees.

A spokesman for Delivery Job UK claimed Deliveroo riders were braving the “cold, rain and absurd distances” for deliveries paying “ridiculous values”, ranging from £2.80 to £3.15.

The organisation said it wanted a £5 minimum. Other companies use different pricing structures.

A spokesman told the BBC: “They [Deliveroo] have lowered their fees. There’s no incentive anymore. On a Friday night you could make £100 over 4-5 hours, now that’s gone”.

Couriers, he said, were also exposed to “a lot of violence on the streets”, especially in the evenings.

Sky News has contacted Deliveroo, Uber and Just Eat for comment.

Read more:
Can’t find Valentine’s roses? It may be down to Brexit
All you need to know about the ‘Welsh Valentine’s Day’
Delivery drivers ‘are not employees’ – Supreme Court

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In the US, delivery drivers are planning strike action for two hours in major cities including Chicago, Miami and Philadelphia because they are “TIRED of being mistreated by the app companies”, according to a post by Justice for App Workers, which says it represents more than 130,000 app drivers.

In a statement on the group’s website, it said members are “sick of working 80 hours/week just to make ends meet, being constantly scared for our safety, and worrying about being deactivated with the click of a button”.

It added: “We’re going on strike and telling the app companies that WE WON’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!”

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