The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Deliveroo riders are not eligible for collective wage negotiations through a trade union.
This decision follows the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain’s (IWGB) efforts to represent Deliveroo riders in discussions over pay and conditions.
Initially, in 2017, the union’s request was denied on the grounds that the riders did not qualify as “workers” under UK labour laws. Despite several appeals, the IWGB’s argument, presented to the Supreme Court in April, was that denying their recognition by Deliveroo for pay and condition negotiations was a violation of the riders’ human rights.
However, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected the IWGB’s appeal. Judge Vivien Rose, in delivering the court’s verdict, stated that Deliveroo riders lack an “employment relationship” with the company and thus are not entitled to mandatory collective bargaining.
