Swiss bike couriers take out protection against Uber Eats
Swiss bicycle couriers have signed a 'Europe-first' collective bargaining agreement deal aimed at protecting them from cheaper rivals, such as the food delivery service Uber Eats.
The courier employer’s association Swissmessengerlogistics (SML) negotiated the contract with the trade union SyndicomExternal link on Tuesday. It guarantees a minimum hourly wage of CHF 20.35 ($20.40), regulated surcharges, on-call services, schedules within a 42.5-hour week and paternity leave.
The deal is being hailed as the first of its type among the urban courier industry in Europe. Around 600 couriers will benefit from the contract.
“Unhealthy competition from low-cost suppliers and so-called platform companies has intensified dramatically,” said Syndicom in a statement. “For example, UberEats recently became active on Swiss soil, disguising its workers as ‘bogus self-employed’.
Uber EatsExternal link is an online food ordering and delivery service that started in the United States. Just like the UberExternal link ridesharing platform, which allows people to offer taxi services, Uber Eats‘ employees can pick and choose when they work and get paid per delivery.
The trade union accused Uber Eats of enforcing “precarious working conditions to maximise profits that take advantage of couriers”.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
This content was published on
The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
Ecological status of Swiss streams insufficient according to study
This content was published on
Pesticide use and obstructions of waterways have a particularly negative impact on sensitive organisms, completely absent in 70% of streams analysed.
Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted
This content was published on
One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
Swiss minister: Italy will back Switzerland in EU talks
This content was published on
Bern can count on the backing of Italy as it re-enters talks with the European Union on future relations, Viola Amherd says.
Student protestors at University of Lausanne continue pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
Since Thursday, a hall on campus has been occupied by students calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and a ceasefire in Gaza.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss court finds in favour of Uber
This content was published on
Zurich’s Social Security Court has found that Uber drivers in Switzerland are not employed by a Swiss firm; they have a contract with a Dutch one.
This content was published on
Uber is present in Zurich, Basel, Geneva and Lausanne with 300,000 regular customers and some 2,600 drivers in Switzerland, Salom told SonntagsBlick. But it has also run into some difficulties with local authorities, trade unions and taxi drivers who complain of unfair competition. “Yes, we made mistakes. We wanted to grow too fast, we were…
This content was published on
According to the company, the decision was taken due to feedback from its partners, who wanted to earn more money through the more expensive UberX service. Economic success was not possible through its cheapest service UberPop, the company stated. UberPop drivers in Basel will have five months to obtain a special licence to transport passengers…
UberPop drivers in Zurich operating outside the law
This content was published on
UberPop drivers who do not hold an official professional taxi license are operating illegally, according to the government in Zurich.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.