The union representing postal workers is worried proposed legislation will lead to pay cuts for food delivery workers.
Ontario’s Supporting Local Restaurants Act is meant to help restaurants by limiting fees charged by third-party food delivery apps like Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes and DoorDash.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says if fees are capped, apps will try to recover the costs by paying workers less. While that’s prohibited under the act, CUPW points out the province hasn’t said much about how it would prevent pay those pay cuts. The union argues that while the bill includes a way for workers to submit complaints if employers cut their pay because of the fee caps, it doesn’t offer “real labour protections.”
National President Jan Simpson argues that delivery workers are already short-changed and aren’t protected by the proposed regulation.
“The apps’ business model has always exploited both small businesses and couriers,” says Simpson. “This Bill is not enough to make them change their ways. How are workers to know, let alone prove to the government, that they’re paying for the fee cap to protect silicon-valley profits? The burden falls on the wrong people. We demand protection for these workers.”
