Deliveroo is preparing for a battle in the Supreme Court after being challenged by a gig economy union over how it treats its riders.

Deliveroo rider on bike

Deliveroo agreed a recognition deal with the GMB union earlier this year

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has said it will challenge Deliveroo in the highest court in the UK, alleging a denial of collective bargaining rights on behalf of its members. 

In May, the company forged a recognition deal with the GMB union, which was not associated with the gig economy. The IWGB now says it wants to pursue legal action against Deliveroo so the app’s riders will be classified as workers. 

It is not the first time the delivery giant has been taken to the court, having previously emerged victorious with its claims that its riders are self-employed. 

The IWGB claims Deliveroo’s partnership with GMB is in contrast with its classification of riders as self-employed and as such prevents couriers from entitlement to collective bargaining rights.

The union has also been critical of Deliveroo for not offering riders holiday pay and pensions, and said it was “outrageous” the app was spending hundreds of thousands of pounds fighting collective bargaining in court.

IWGB president Alex Marshall said: “Deliveroo should be investing this money in courier pay and conditions, rather than trying to silence its workers who only want a seat at the table.”

However, Deliveroo has criticised the IWGB’s case and said the union “focuses solely on very narrow issues related to the right to collective bargaining in the UK”.

  • Get the latest grocery news and insight straight to your inbox – sign up for our weekly newsletter