Yesterday [23/03/2024], after two days, the strike action at the Glovo Platform in Poznań was suspended. However, this morning a strike started again at the same Platform in Grudziądz – as far as we know, almost all people from this city are on strike. This is a one-day strike.
Below we present the entire letter with demands prepared as part of the protest in Poznań. So far, no one from Glovo has commented on it.
March 21, 2024
From Poznań couriers
To the representatives of GLOVO Polska
We, couriers delivering orders on the GLOVO online platform in Poznań, turn to GLOVO representatives with a petition, the content of which is the result of a careful analysis of the opinions and comments collected from all couriers signed under this letter.
Due to the growing dissatisfaction of couriers making deliveries on the GLOVO online platform, the protest Couriers Association in Poznań was established. The reason for this is a number of problems that we have reported many times in recent years via the communication channels provided to us, including the Telegram group set up by GLOVO representatives, and directly through the GLOVO office in Poznań. Unfortunately, our problems, comments and wishes were mostly ignored by GLOVO representatives.
We had to unite and act to be heard. Our strike is an undertaking we have undertaken for this purpose. We are working people, couriers, we are a fundamental part of the entire process of functioning of the GLOVO online platform and it cannot be that the company does not hear us, ignores our problems and requests, that we are used as labor without the right to vote, driving the interests of the corporation. We are human beings and we demand a humane attitude towards us! In this letter, we convey our position, demands and wishes regarding working conditions and remuneration for couriers to GLOVO representatives.
Currently, the average earnings of a GLOVO courier per hour in Poznań are approximately PLN 30 gross per hour. With a normal work schedule, i.e. 5 days a week, 8 hours of work, the revenue from the application will amount to PLN 4,800 gross. And this is where the problems begin. When employed through fleet partners, on the basis of a mandate contract, the amount of all necessary contributions and taxes is approximately PLN 2,000 for full-time employment. When cooperating in the B2B format, the deduction amounts are at a similar level. This means that from PLN 4,800 in revenue from the application, we would have PLN 2,800 net left after deductions, of which a significant part are the costs related to the operation of our private vehicles and fuel costs.
Many couriers have to rent vehicles, electric bikes or scooters, which costs an average of PLN 250 per week. It therefore costs them an additional PLN 1,000 out of PLN 2,800 of net income. PLN 1,800 remains for them. Can such remuneration for our hard work be considered worthy?
We probably won’t reveal any secret if we mention the third method of settlement with the courier, the vehicle rental agreement. In this case, the courier is only obliged to pay 8.5% tax to the State Treasury. Of course, this is the most popular type of contract for couriers. And why – it’s not hard to understand. This choice is effectively without alternatives. Because we simply cannot work on the basis of mandate or B2B contracts with an income of PLN 4,800 gross. Increasing working hours to 10-13 hours cannot be a normal solution to this problem. But many couriers work this way. We all want to work completely legally, in accordance with all the rules and regulations of the Polish State and the Labor Code. We believe that a new employment and remuneration system for couriers should be created with decent rates and all employee rights. We know that the EU Council has just approved the Online Platform Work Directive, we hope that there will be some good steps in this matter soon. However, at the moment the rates are catastrophically low and the constant tendency to lower them is considered completely unacceptable. Therefore, while understanding the difficult economic situation of the GLOVO online platform, we demand that the multiplier in the city of Poznań be at least 1.7x during the warm months, and much higher in winter. Without any other manipulations with the order payment system, as was the case, for example, from August 8, 2022, when the rate per kilometer and the basic rate for the order were lowered, in exchange for which the multiplier was increased, precisely this parameter that is constantly changing. That is why our earnings have been systematically decreasing in recent years, despite the general inflation crisis, price increases and wage increases in all areas of work. Our request is quite modest because we understand all the economic difficulties of GLOVO, but we also encourage the couriers to understand. From what we can currently see, after our protests began, GLOVO representatives immediately started unplanned recruitment and activation of new couriers. Is this an adequate and good way to solve the problem and treat employees with dignity?
Technical questions
1) The waiting time for orders in Biedronka is sometimes up to an hour or more. This looks like a reluctance to improve and optimize the application’s performance. The consequences are that we lose a lot of money. GLOVO also loses, because while we wait there, other orders could be fulfilled. We believe that it is mandatory to have an algorithm that will allow calling a courier to Biedronka only when the order is ready or at least when a store employee has accepted a specific order on his device.
2) The order number/collection code is currently not visible while the order preparation countdown is displayed in the application. This small detail constantly causes difficulties in our work. Time and time again we look stupid when, upon arrival, they ask us for our order number and we answer that we don’t know which order we came for because we don’t see it at home. It’s so simple and we have been asking for this matter to be resolved for at least a year and nothing. The order code should be visible from the moment you receive your order.
3) Back home! Due to the fact that in the last hour of work the courier may be at the other end of the city and spend more than an hour returning home, please add a function where, in the last hour of work, the courier could receive an order with delivery towards home. This feature is perfectly implemented in the Bolt taxi app! This would be a very useful feature for the courier!
4) We are fed up with these CUSTOMERS. This should definitely be removed
5) Compensation for orders canceled through no fault or initiative of the courier should be charged according to the distance traveled and not a flat rate. Now, regardless of whether we travel 100 meters or 15 km before canceling the order, we get a fixed amount of approximately PLN 4.97. This is illogical and unfair!
6) More and more often we receive triple orders, where we get a full 20 cents extra for the delivery of the third one. Is this a joke or a mistake? We do not understand!
7) We now get a 15% bonus for every order for delivery in the rain. We demand that this bonus be increased to at least 25%. Because these are harmful and dangerous working conditions for both vehicles and our health!
We hope that all of the above demands will be understood and our problems will be positively resolved. We expect a response from GLOVO representatives in the form of a letter via the office in Poznań.
