International Trade Union Policy

Riders on the Storm

The demand for online services has reached record levels in most countries. Delivery drivers dominate the street scene in many places.

The pandemic has increased demand even further and platforms have expanded their operations.

Meanwhile, many workers who have lost their formal jobs are trying to make a living in the platform-based transport sector.

They find themselves in bogus self-employment, however, and working in poor conditions. The platforms, which act as the actual customer, do not assume any responsibility and have yet to be legally obliged to provide protection for workers.

Contact

Mirko Herberg
+49 (0)30 26935-7458
 

Julia Schultz
+49 (0)30 26935-7493

unionstransform(at)fes.de

Collective protests are taking place and new types of grassroots organisations are emerging (Argentina, Netherlands/Belgium, Indonesia).

They are fighting for recognition, better regulation and protection, either on their own or through cooperation with traditional unions. Unions are expanding their repertoire of actions and, potentially, their membership base through these alliances.

This new form of cooperation, which bridges the gap between the formal and informal economy and targets representation of the interests of informal, self-employed or precariously employed workers, holds out tremendous innovative potential (South Korea, Uganda) and has already achieved regulatory successes.

Short Stories-Booklet

Trade unions in transformation 4.0

Stories of unions confronting the new world of work
Berlin, 2021

Download publication (2,6 MB PDF-File)


If you don't have time to read all the publications but still want to find out about the keyresults, we recommend the Short Stories Booklet: in it you will find the essence of the results presented in short articles.

¿No tienes tiempo para leer todo el estudio? Ahorra tiempo y mantente informado con este resumen. Pas le temps de lire toute l'étude? Prenez ensuite le temps de lire le résumé. Não há tempo para ler todos os estudos? Então, reserve um tempo para ler a versão curta.

Publications

Global labour unrest on platforms (en)

Global labour unrest on platforms (en)

The case of food delivery workers more
Riding on a union app (en)

Riding on a union app (en)

Uganda's Public Transport Workers' Digital Response to Platforms more
Una app de los/as trabajadores/as (es)

Una app de los/as trabajadores/as (es)

La lucha del primer sindicato de trabajadores/as de plataformas en América Latina more
Uma app dos/das trabalhadores/as (pt)

Uma app dos/das trabalhadores/as (pt)

A luta do primeiro sindicato de trabalhadores/as em plataformas na América Latina more
Une appli pour le mouvement syndical (fr)

Une appli pour le mouvement syndical (fr)

La lutte des travailleur·euse·s de plateformes d’Amérique latine more
Proudly delivered by app (en)

Proudly delivered by app (en)

The struggle of Latin America’s first union for platform workers more
De la rue au Syndicalisme d'improvisation (fr)

De la rue au Syndicalisme d'improvisation (fr)

Les coursier·e·s des plateformes de livraison de repas en Belgique et aux Pays-Bas more
Resisting exploitation by algorithms (en)

Resisting exploitation by algorithms (en)

Drivers’ Contestation of App-based Transport in Indonesia more
From street protest to improvisational unionism (en)

From street protest to improvisational unionism (en)

more
En la calle: sindicalismo improvisado(es)

En la calle: sindicalismo improvisado(es)

more
Safety for the public, rights for the driver (en)

Safety for the public, rights for the driver (en)

more
Seguridad para el público, dere-chos para los conductores (es)

Seguridad para el público, dere-chos para los conductores (es)

more

Videos (multilingual)

How workers organisations and unions attempt to reign in the platform economy in transport.

Comment les travailleurs des transports s'organisent pour garantir leurs droits

Como os trabalhadores do transporte se organizam para garantir seus direitos

About the project

The "Trade Unions in Transformation 4.0" project was initiated by FES with the aim of better understanding the representation of workers' interests in digital capitalism. The project sheds light on how trade unions and new organisations of workers are mobilising their power resources to face and shape the emerging new world of work. FES wants to contribute to the strategy-building among workers and trade unions and is offering its cooperation.

The project highlights how workers and unions are shaping change in the industrial sectors, how tech workers are becoming part of the workers' movement, how transport workers are opposing the restructuring of their sector through platforms, and what digital tools and apps unions are developing to expand their power in the digital economy.