Delivery area drivers protest for respect and better working conditions

Delivery area drivers protest for respect and better working conditions

in the heart of Berlin, in the trendy Kiez Prenzlauer Berg, a haunting demonstration took place yesterday. Around 70 suppliers and their supporters gathered loudly on Schönhauser Allee. Your goal? Better working conditions for couriers who work for Lieferando and similar services. The main demands include essential things such as breaks, access to toilets and enough water during working hours.

The impetus for this powerful rally was an incident that caused a sensation: a driver from Lieferando was allegedly attacked in a burger branch by an employee there while waiting to pick up an order. This led to a head injury of the courier, which finally required hospital treatment. The signs that were shown during the demonstration wore provocative slogans such as "racket master" and "I order respect!" and illustrated the displeasure of the suppliers.

experiences of the courier

Mohammed U. (40), an experienced driver, described his experiences from the world of work: "After seven hours in the heat, you can probably ask for water!" In his opinion, this is not guaranteed in many restaurants, including the criticized burger chain. The conditions under which the couriers have to work are often unreasonable, and access to basic resources is denied them.

his colleague Malik H. (42), who has been working for the delivery service for a year and a half, also expressed his frustration. "I just want to do my job well, but in some restaurants you are treated like an intruder," he said. The rejection, directly on site in the companies, makes work uncomfortable and humiliating for the couriers. "As soon as you are in there, you will scream: 'Wait outside!' This is humiliating - we also deserve respect!"

The conditions that the couriers have to experience during their work apparently achieved a critical level that made this demonstration necessary. As part of the protest campaign, many participants expressed their disappointment and sadness about the treatment they experience in restaurants. It becomes clear that there is a lack of respect and understanding of the work of these people.

At the request of BILD, Lieferando reacted to the allegations by describing the incident as an "extremely rare individual case". The company emphasized that violence was unacceptable and declared that they are in contact with the employee and the restaurant concerned to clarify the situation. However, the burger chain itself did not answer at an inquiry and therefore remains unclear on the public.

A police officer who accompanied the demonstration confirmed that both the supplier and the employee of the restaurant have filed a complaint. "There is a statement against statement," the policeman noted. This indicates that despite the negative experiences of the couriers, the legal consequences and their clarification are still standing.

The demonstration not only referred to the existing grievances, but also strengthened solidarity among the suppliers. It is time to pay more attention to working conditions and the general treatment of couriers and take concrete steps to improve their situation. While the discussion about the rights and respect for suppliers continues, it remains to be seen which changes are possible at the political and social level.

- Nag