Point out promotions, distance surcharges, etc.
Demand for a stable wage system
The management side “needs careful discussion”
Coupang Eats delivery riders decided to go on an intensive strike to stop deliveries on the 24th, when the Korean national soccer team will host the first game of the World Cup in Qatar.
On the 23rd, the ‘Coupang Eats Joint Bargaining Group’, composed of the Rider Union and the KCTU Service Federation Delivery Platform Union, held a press conference in front of the Coupang Eats headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and said, “We will hold a concentrated strike on the 24th, and Coupang Eats ‘log out’ to the self-employed and consumers. We will appeal,” he said.
The negotiating group explained that they decided to go on strike, saying that Coupang Eats was consistent with an insincere attitude in response to the demand for guarantees of reasonable delivery fees. Last year, Coupang Eats lowered the delivery fee from 3,100 won to 2,500 won per delivery and applied a distance surcharge instead. The negotiating group said, “No one will agree to pay 6,000 won to the self-employed for delivery fee, and only 2,500 won of it is paid to riders.” did.
On the 24th, Coupang Eats criticized the promotion of the delivery fee surcharge as a ‘trick to lower the strike power’. Coupang Eats increased the ‘surcharge peak time’, which was originally from 5:00 pm to 7:59 pm, to 5:00 pm to 1:59 am the next day in line with the soccer game time.
Insurance and distance surcharges were also on the cutting board. The negotiating team said, “Coupang Itz said that it introduced hourly insurance through an agreement with the negotiating team, but it was left to the choice of the rider. Coupang Eats is the only company that operates without checking commercial transportation insurance, and there is no insurance for bicycle and electric kickboard workers.” Regarding the distance surcharge that Coupang Eats introduced to benefit long-distance delivery, he said, “As a result of the confirmation of the negotiating group, the surcharge for each distance was tied to the upper limit of 1750 won, regardless of whether it was 10 km or 8 km.”
Riders go on strike on the 24th by ‘logout’ of the Coupang Eats app. It means that they will use other platforms without receiving work through Coupang Eats.
An official from Coupang Eats said, “The increase in delivery fees is an issue that can put a heavy burden on not only customers but also self-employed restaurant owners, so careful discussion is needed.”
