Towards United Efforts: Collective Bargaining in the Balkan Food Delivery Sector

By Tomislav Ki? and Ana Tomicic, Novi Sindikat

Imagine Marko, a food delivery worker in Croatia, navigating the bustling streets of Zagreb. Each day, he weaves through traffic on his bicycle, delivering meals for Wolt. Like many others across the Balkans, Marko faces significant hurdles due to fragmented labour laws in the region. Each country has its own legal framework, limiting trade unions to negotiate only within their borders. This means that while a Croatian union can advocate for workers in Croatia, it lacks the jurisdiction to support workers in neighbouring Serbia or Macedonia. This legal fragmentation leads to inconsistent wages and working conditions for workers employed by multinational platform companies like Wolt, Bolt, and Glovo.

The Role of Transnational Companies

Companies like Wolt, Bolt, and Glovo, which operate in multiple countries, highlight the need for transnational collective bargaining. Each segment of these companies negotiates contracts based on national laws, resulting in discrepancies in wages and working conditions. While the currency and amounts might differ, a fair wage should correspond to the same unit of caloric intake and other basic needs. A unified bargaining approach that ensures all workers can meet these needs, regardless of their location, is essential for creating equitable working conditions.

Workers across the Balkans frequently read news about their peers from Serbia or Slovenia going on strike, fighting for better conditions. These stories of solidarity resonate deeply, fuelling a desire for a more unified approach to bargaining — one that considers the diverse economic landscapes of the countries involved but strives for a common standard of fairness.

Moving Towards a Unified Framework

Workers in the Balkan food delivery sector face numerous challenges. Job insecurity, fluctuating income, and a lack of social protections are common issues. Moreover, platform algorithms significantly impact their daily work and income. Understanding these algorithms and learning from experts about how data-driven strategies can inform bargaining tactics are crucial steps towards creating a cohesive strategy for collective bargaining across the region.

Novi Sindikat, a leading trade union from Croatia, has hosted various events, including webinars and in-person meetings, aimed at developing a unified bargaining strategy. These events brought together trade union representatives, NGOs, aggregators (intermediaries), and workers from across Europe to discuss how data and GDPR can be leveraged to fight for workers’ rights in the context of algorithmic management.

Participants from Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Georgia, and beyond shared insights into job insecurity, fluctuating income, and a lack of social protections. These discussions were crucial in recognizing the shared challenges that form the foundation for a unified bargaining approach. Understanding the impact of platform algorithms on daily work and income, and learning from experts about how data-driven strategies can inform bargaining tactics, have moved attendees closer to creating a cohesive strategy for collective bargaining across the Balkan region.

The Importance of Collective Action

Technology and data are crucial for effective advocacy. Trade union representatives discussed how leveraging technology can facilitate better communication and coordination among workers spread across different countries. They see the potential for online platforms and social media to be powerful tools for organizing, enabling workers to share their experiences and mobilize for collective action more efficiently.

Workers have envisioned scenarios where they come together to fight for their rights. Inspired by the stories and insights shared during meetings, they see the potential for collective action to lead to substantial changes far beyond what individual efforts could achieve. A unified network of support across borders can amplify their bargaining power, making it more likely to resolve issues that a single union might struggle with independently.

Addressing the Specific Needs of Foreign Workers

Foreign workers in the food delivery sector often face unique challenges. Initially, these workers are hesitant to share their experiences, often keeping to themselves due to language barriers and cultural differences. However, over time, as they gain trust and confidence, they begin to open up about their challenges.

For example, a foreign worker might be asked to pay a substantial fee to an agency to secure a job in Croatia, putting their family back home in a precarious financial situation. This fee locks them in a cycle of work without the ability to advocate for better conditions. Organizing efforts must include multilingual communication strategies and culturally sensitive engagement approaches. Additionally, addressing the legal precarities that foreign workers face, such as visa issues and lack of social security, is essential. Trade unions must advocate not only for fair wages but also for comprehensive legal protections that secure the status of foreign workers in their host countries.

***

As Marko pedals home after a long day, he reflects on the discussions and workshops he attended. The potential for transnational collective bargaining in the Balkan food delivery sector is vast but requires strategic planning and collaboration. At Novi Sindikat, we are committed to creating a network of regional collaboration and support. We aim to empower workers like Marko to advocate for their rights effectively, transcending national boundaries to set a precedent for equitable working conditions in the gig economy. Join us in this effort to protect workers’ rights globally. By coming together and fighting for transnational collective bargaining, workers can ensure that their voices are heard and their rights are protected, no matter where they are.

***

This blog is a result of the discussions carried out within the project “Future-Proof Collective Bargaining: Protecting worker rights in an AI-driven world of work”.

#PlatformWork #AI@Work #CollectiveBargaining #TradeUnions #WorkersRights