‘Algorithm Breakers’ Are not a Different ‘Species’: Attitudes Towards Trade Unions of Deliveroo Riders in Belgium

Abstract

This working paper investigates a rare case of platform work performed in the realm of regulated employment and explores the attitudes of platform workers towards collective representation. Using a case study of Deliveroo, a food delivery platform, the paper argues that platform workers are not essentially different to their peers in their attitudes towards trade unions. The paper finds that the riders do not generally hold negative views towards unions, and do not consider unions incompatible with platform work. Instead, there has been a lack of union activity in reaching out to riders as a reason for their non-membership.

Keywords: crowd work; workers representation; trade unionization; trade union membership; delivery; case study; food; young worker; labour market; Belgium