In the series of presentations of trade unions, associations and groups that fight against exploitation Platforms around the world, today: Larnaca, Cyprus.
Last Friday [February 16, 2024], most of the suppliers working for the Wolt Platform in Larnaca went on strike. This was not the first strike in this city – the previous one took place a year and a half ago. Previously, the strike action covered Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol and lasted over 10 days. It had great social support, and the PEO trade union represented them in negotiations with the Platform. At the end of the strike, Platform managers made a promise that they would conclude a collective agreement and their work status would be negotiated with the government. However, a year and a half has passed and nothing has changed.
Moreover, in recent weeks, remuneration for deliveries has been reduced: when the same courier receives more than one order at the same time, the second (and subsequent) is paid significantly less. There is still no compensation for rainy days or other extreme weather events. Before the strike was announced, workers shared their grievances with their agents, fleet managers and operations managers, but nothing changed.
The company’s reaction was immediate. From the first day of the strike, employees had their accounts blocked.
The platform even mobilized managers from neighboring Greece to call the strikers and threaten to report them to the police. This threat was unrealistic because the strike was legal, but since most of the workers were either asylum seekers or students, reporting them to the police could result in deportation.
Therefore, hour by hour on Saturday, more and more people returned to work, and on Sunday evening the strike ended.
Effect: out of 80 striking people, as many as 25 have had their accounts blocked (read: dismissed).
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