This strike comes at a time when people are most dependent on food, drinks, groceries, and last-minute shopping for the night of December 31st.
According to unions, more than 100,000 delivery workers will either be logged out of the app or will be working very limitedly.
Delivery workers working for major platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, and Amazon have announced a nationwide strike on December 31st. This strike is likely to directly impact New Year’s Eve celebrations, as food and online shopping orders increase significantly on this day. The movement is being led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers. Regional unions in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi-NCR, West Bengal, and parts of Tamil Nadu are also supporting the strike.
Why is there increased concern just before New Year’s?
This strike is taking place at a time when people rely heavily on food, drinks, groceries, and last-minute shopping for the night of December 31st. According to unions, more than 100,000 delivery workers will either be logged out of the app or will be working very limitedly. Order volume typically increases exponentially during New Year’s, but this time, services may experience significant disruptions.
Which services will be most affected?
Food delivery, quick commerce, and e-commerce services will be affected by the strike. Late-night food orders, emergency grocery deliveries, and last-minute online shopping are expected to be delayed or canceled. The impact is expected in major cities like Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as well as in several tier-2 cities.
Gig workers’ anger is behind the strike.
Unions say that while the demand for fast delivery has increased rapidly, the conditions of workers in the gig economy are continuously deteriorating. According to them, while companies and customers have benefited from quick commerce, there has been no improvement in the salaries, job security, and safety of delivery workers. Companies prioritize speed and customer convenience, while workers are increasingly burdened with increased workload and low earnings.
Allegations of ID Blocking and Algorithmic Punishment
Union leaders allege that whenever delivery workers raise their concerns, platform companies block their IDs or threaten them. In some cases, threats of police complaint and punishment through algorithms have also been reported. They say that such measures suppress workers’ voices and worsen the situation.
Strikes have happened before.
This is not the first time gig workers have stopped work en masse. Previously, a major strike took place on December 25th, involving approximately 40,000 delivery workers. Delivery services were affected by approximately 60 percent in several cities during that time. Unions claim that if demands are not addressed, such movements could intensify in the future.
What to Consider During New Year’s Celebrations
This strike may cause difficulties for those who rely on takeout food or online grocery shopping on New Year’s Eve. Therefore, preparing in advance and having alternatives in place may be wise. This movement not only warns of disruptions in services but also draws attention to the changing and increasingly difficult working conditions for gig workers.
