Preston delivery drivers boycott Just Eat over low pay

Just Eat orders are taking longer than normal for pickups and delivery due to the boycott Pic: Shakeel Ahmed — Just Eat orders are taking longer than normal for pickups and deliveries due to the boycott Pic: Shakeel Ahmed

Preston delivery drivers are boycotting an online food delivery service over “cheeky” pay rates.

A large number of delivery drivers boycotted Just Eat (JE) over low pay rates and demanded the courier brand to bring its rates on par with the cost of living crisis.

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M Nadeem, from Deepdale who has four children and is a member of the Preston-based WhatsApp group – “Couriers United” with 166 members, said: “I have been working with JE since 2018 and back then we had been making up to £30 an hour when fuel prices were much cheaper.

The 32-year-old went on to say: “Now we are making about £10 an hour while the fuel prices have shot up to around £1.80 per litre.

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Preston delivery drivers demand a fair pay Pic: Shakeel Ahmed

“We only manage to do maximum two jobs in one hour. We need an increase in the rates not a decrease.”

Barbara Kocik, 39, from Poland and mum of three children said working conditions are dire: “Insurance, maintenance and fuel prices are going up but money is going down, so I work longer hours now.”

“Plus, our dead mileage is increasing. Now I have to drive longer distances to pick up orders for “cheeky” money.

“JE needs to think of the drivers and make conditions better.”

Another driver who preferred to be known as Sardar Singh, compared the working conditions to slavery.

He said: “There was a new update recently on the JE platform. We were told that access to the App (JE) would be denied if the new terms and condition were not accepted.

“So, we had no choice but to accept, whatever they were. We were forced to accept it. This is slavery.”

A spokesperson for Just Eat said: “We take any concerns raised by couriers on our network seriously.

“We provide a highly competitive base rate to self-employed couriers and also offer regular incentives to help them maximise their earnings.

“We continue to review our pay structure regularly and welcome any feedback from couriers.”

Due to the boycott, JE orders are taking longer than normal for pickups and delivery in the Preston area.

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