Two months ago, people working for the Glovo Platform in Poland went on strike. First in Grudziądz, then in Poznań. Today we present you a short interview with people who co-organized those strikes. Probably, if it weren’t for their involvement, nothing would have happened.
Two months have passed since your last strikes. What has happened for you since then?
Pele (Grudziądz): I think that the couriers’ belief that something could be changed, that the Glovo platform would think not only about itself, but also about those who earn huge amounts of money for it, was illusory. There are further strange changes that no one needs, such as new recruitments, lowering of multipliers, some changes in the application that serve no purpose.
Ivan (Poznań): Well, since the strikes, we have founded the Workers’ Initiative Couriers’ Union. There’s a lot of work involved.
Has Glovo contacted you in any way? Whatever did they answer?
I: Glovo is not contacting us. Only the city manager is open to talks, but he doesn’t decide anything, these are just empty declarations.
P: Our city manager has gone underground, so we have no contact with Glovo or anyone from them.
What do you think happened that led to these strikes?
I: The direct spark was the significant deterioration of working conditions.
P: Our couriers were fed up with the unilateral changes introduced by the Platform and the constant lowering of multipliers. Now, new couriers, even at a time when there are few orders, place 3 times more orders, but their earnings are 2 times lower. So if it’s better, why is it worse for us couriers? And the Platform charges more and more fees from customers, but pays us much less.
And what, in your opinion, makes it most difficult for people working for Platforms to organize themselves?
I: Certainly the constant turnover at Glovo, and the fact that couriers are not in one workplace, in one place. That it’s just hard to communicate with each other.
P: The most difficult thing is the constant recruitment. And there is no chance of communicating with the couriers who are on my mother’s side. They don’t have to count how much they spend on fuel, car repairs or to pay taxes. There are also a few people who treat Platforms as an escape from various life situations. They only care about having cash with them.
What are your plans for the future? What do you want to do next?
I: We, as the Union, want to talk to the Ministry of Labor and hear their opinion on this matter. We also contact other trade unions from other countries to learn about their experience. Maybe we’ll learn something new.
P: There are no plans for the future with the Glovo Platform. You need to get away from here as quickly as possible, not become a slave and take courses for PLN 8 (per order). We cannot allow ourselves to be exploited like this. Sooner or later Glovo will fold and couriers will be left with their hands in the potty.
Thank you for the conversation, thank you for your commitment! Take care!