The gig economy keeps growing, but its workers are fed up
Blog Post #2
Since 1998, temporary employment has risen from 11.8% to 13.3% representing 3.5% of Canada’s total work force. Although this may seem like a low percentage, gig economy workers such as ride sharing, and food delivery services are equivalent to 700,000 full time employment positions across the country but lack many of the benefits and rights that employed union workers are entitled to. Thousands of workers are intrigued by the “be your own boss” motto that gig business preach but this flexibility and freedom is often coupled with instability and mistreatment (Treleaven, 2019).
Gig economy workers have had enough of the unpredictability of their employment and working conditions and have begun to rally and push for unionization in hopes of securing paid work leave, injury benefits and more stability in their wages and hours. Some workers are fearful that a bike accident can put them out of work for weeks without being able to make money or receive compensation and that they lose valuable working hours in instances such as delayed flights. Many share the same thoughts and feelings that these large companies are taking advantage of the limited availability in the secure job market to exploit freelance labourers to work for low wages and extensive hours. To stand up and reclaim their workers right’s, Foodora, which is a food delivery company, has been looking into joining the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, and Uber drivers have expressed interest in becoming a part of the United Food and Commercial Workers Unions. Their goals are to gain access to collective bargaining and procure a stronger voice to advocate for their rights (Treleaven, 2019).
With that being said, there are many concerns over how gig companies that lack a sole employer and place of work can successfully unionize. Also, the process of unionization may take away aspects of the gig economy that many people are drawn to such as the flexibility of the workday and the independence to work as many hours as they wish (Treleaven, 2019). Although there are many employees in these companies that use the gig economy to make a little extra cash on the side or help pay for their education and living necessities while in school, the reality is that there is also a very large number of workers who rely heavily on their employment in the gig economy for income and survival. A recent study by Statistics Canada showed that almost 50% of employees in the gig economy had no regular job, and half of these workers are reliant on their wages from their gig work for more than 75% of their total income. Since these jobs require less skill and formal education, gig companies allow for women, immigrants and low-income Canadians to claim employment. But, this does not mean that they should be denied the benefits they would receive from other workplaces, deeming the move to unionization not only valid, but essential (Lewis, 2019).
The procedure of unionizing gig companies is not a new or impossible concept as these same companies, Foodora and Uber, have already unionized in other countries like Norway and Japan (Treleaven, 2019). Using Japan as an example, the country recognized the insecurity of their Uber driver’s working conditions and offered their 15,000 workers injury compensation and are in the process of applying the same efforts to Japan’s other 3 million freelance workers (Uber Eats, 2019).
I believe that unionizing gig style companies is an adequate and feasible solution to the labourers concerns regarding workers’ rights and receiving equivalent benefits to those working in full time employment. Since a large number of Canada’s working population is employed in the gig economy for their livelihoods, companies should model after countries such as Japan to make temporary work more stable and secure for the workers. Just because gig work advertises freedom in one’s employment doesn’t suggest that workers cannot make a minimum wage, have health and accident coverage and be protected from algorithm layoffs (Treleavan, 2019). Therefore, unionizing is way to give these workers a fair and secure employment experience where they are able to make a living while still accessing the independence of gig work.
References
Lewis, M. (2019, December 17). One in 10 Toronto workers is now a gig economy worker, StatCan says. Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://www.thestar.com/business/tech_news/2019/12/16/one-in-10-toronto-workers-is-now-a-gig-economy-worker-statcan-says.html
Treleaven, S. (2019, December 11). The gig economy keeps growing, but its workers are fed up. Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/the-gig-economy-keeps-growing-but-its-workers-are-fed-up/
Uber Eats delivery staff in Japan form labor union. (2019, October 3). Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/03/business/corporate-business/uber-eats-delivery-staff-japan-form-labor-union/#.XoD8_xNKhQI
Image Citations
Catalan, J. (2016, March 9). A Female Uber Driver Tells All. Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2016/03/105521/female-uber-driver-essay
Lannehensley. (2019, May 13). ‘What other industry would allow that?’: What it’s like to work for service apps. Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://globalnews.ca/news/5262120/working-for-service-delivery-apps/
Wisterberg, E. (2017, March 12). I spent two weeks delivering for Uber Eats and made $4.4 per hour. Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://www.breakit.se/artikel/7599/i-spent-two-weeks-delivering-for-uber-eats-and-made-4-4-per-hour
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