Click for gallery. Precarious workers march against the gig economy, 30.10.18, photos Paula Mitchell (Click to enlarge)

Precarious workers march against gig economy

Paula Mitchell

A brightly coloured and noisy protest of precarious workers marched and danced its way round central London this morning (Tuesday 30th October).

Starting at Transport for London HQ they marched to the Royal Courts of Justice, demanding workers' rights and an end to the gig economy.

The heart of the protest was against Uber, at the Court of Appeal, trying to avoid giving holiday pay, sick pay and other rights to their drivers.

Uber drivers organised by the small independent union IWGB were joined by deliveroo cyclists, and newly-organised foster carers and game workers. These workers demanded payment by the hour.

Representatives also took part from general union GMB and the bakers' union, and the protest was addressed by Dave Ward general secretary of the CWU communication workers' union.

The next leg of the protest was to join outsourced security workers at Senate House, University of London, fighting for decent pay and against privatisation.

Helen Pattison reports from Senate House:

Outside Senate House, 30.10.18, photo by Helen Pattison (Click to enlarge)

Outside Senate House, trade unionists, campaigners and students continued to protest against low pay and outsourcing of cleaners.

Then we marched round to the office of TDL, a medical couriers service. Placards said: "TDL, you're taking the piss". These workers report that they do 52 hour weeks and barely break even.

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 30 October 2018 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.

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