Postal Workers March behind Foodora Couriers

Delegation shows support for bike and car couriers
at Foodora who are unionizing with CUPW

TORONTO, May 15, 2019 /CNW/ - Postal workers and their allies took to the streets of Toronto this afternoon, marching to Nathan Philips Square, to support Foodora bike and car couriers who are fighting for their rights as workers.

"Postal workers stand here today in solidarity with Foodora couriers," says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. "Together, we will fight to protect the unprotected, to organize the unorganized and to set important precedents for gig economy workers and labour rights."

Bicycle and car couriers in the Toronto area working for Foodora, an app-based food delivery company, announced at the beginning of the month their plans to unionize with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). The couriers are fighting for better health and safety protections, fair compensation for they work they perform, and for the right to join a union. 

Foodora, like most food delivery companies, operates under the premise that couriers are independent contractors, and therefore, workers are not entitled to the rights and benefits of full-fledged employees.

"They are taking advantage of us," says Ivan Ostos, a Foodora bike courier, who was injured on the job last year. "We make a lot of money for this company. We are not machines and we deserve to be taken care of if we get injured doing this job." 

"In Ontario, we have a PC government that doesn't care about workers, a PC government that is continually attacking worker rights," said Ontario Federation of Labour President Chris Buckley, who spoke at the march. "Workers in this province are a united power of many and will resist until corporations in Ontario and across Canada respect their workers."

For more information about the unionization campaign and worker rights, visit: https://www.foodstersunited.ca/

SOURCE Canadian Union of Postal Workers