Britain's Court of Appeal confirmed on Thursday that riders for food delivery firm Deliveroo were self-employed, dismissing a union appeal against past judgments on their status.
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) had applied to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) to be recognised by Deliveroo for collective bargaining in respect of a group of riders. On 14 November 2017, the CAC issued its decision declining to accept the application. According to the CAC, riders were not workers because Deliveroo did not require them to carry out their services in person, but allowed substitutions. IWGB appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal, confirming that Deliveroo's riders do not have an obligation to provide services personally and considering this a material factor.
Deliveroo said it was the fourth court judgment in Britain which had determined its riders were self-employed, after one by the Central Arbitration Committee and two at the High Court. IWGB is expected to appeal the decision.