Longest gig strike continues

Couriers and delivery drivers across the country are now well over 100 days into their strike action against Stuart Delivery, a partner of Just Eat. 


The workers, members of the IWGB union, began what is now the “longest ever gig economy strike”, after their employer reportedly slashed their basic pay by 24% during a pay restructuring at the end of 2021. Stuart revised their pay structure last year, cutting the base rate for each delivery by 24%, but paying more for each mile covered. As a result of the change, the union reports that some members’ income dropped by as much as £100 per week.


While Stuart has made a number of changes in line with the couriers’ demands on other issues since the strike began, the workers are keen to stress that pay is their primary concern.


Parirs Dixon, president of the IWGB Couriers Sheffield branch, says that levels of pay were too low before the cut, and are now even more so due to the rising cost of living – which hits couriers particularly hard.


He said: “We have insurance costs, we have extra business insurance, that can be an extra £2,000-£3,000. Fuel is a lot extra. Not long ago £40 worth would last me a good two days, but now it’s gone after a day.”