Solidarity is Strength: Wolt Delivery Workers Fighting Back

Wolt delivery workers in Cyprus have organised to demand better working and pay conditions in a sector known for its precariousness and labour rights abuses.

On 20th March they decided to go on a week-long wildcat strike to protest against wage theft, and unsafe working conditions that they suffer in the form of racist attacks.

The vast majority of delivery drivers in Cyprus are wage employees - third country nationals on student visas officially working for fleet managers (contractors), most of which have ties to organised crime and trafficking networks.

Wolt (subsidiary of DoorDash, same as Deliveroo) did not attempt to meaningfully listen and address the workers concerns, but instead chose to use union busting tactics and intimidation to try and break the strike and the worker’s collective stance, by temporarily raising the pay rates and offering bonuses; and using in-role henchmen to assault workers with physical violence.

Furthermore, the workers had to deal with racist police repression and brutality, and the indifference from the local institutions who are meant to protect worker’s rights, including the right to strike.

The negotiations between Wolt and the strikers, mediated by the trade union PEO despite none of the strikers being their members, led nowhere. None of the demands of the strikers were met.

Fellow Workers in IWW CyROC, along with other organisations, are supporting the strikers on the ground every step of the way. They have now organised a fundraising campaign to support the dire financial situation of the workers. After a week on strike, many drivers are now behind on rent, food and basic needs. More urgently, some are behind on tuition fees, which puts them at risk of deportation.

It is paramount that we support the collective organising of workers to fight for better conditions and against exploitation in the class war. They fought to defend their rights, we must now support them to keep up the fight for the success of their efforts. Please share and donate to the crowdfunding here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/solidarity-fund-for-wolt-drivers-in-cyprus

Support the Drivers, Stand with Them!

An Injury to One is an Injury to All.