Riders Rights Campaign for Uber Drivers: Best regards, Syndicom

Riders Rights Campaign: Using the Platform Against Itself

Food delivery riders are a common sight in the city—yet their precarious working conditions remain invisible to many. With the Riders Rights campaign, the Zurich-based agency Freundliche Grüsse has developed an unusual approach for the Syndicom union: Uber Eats is being used to directly inform its own delivery riders about their rights when they pick up orders—and to increase pressure on Uber to finally act as an employer.

Uber Eats classifies its food delivery drivers as self-employed. This is despite the fact that a federal court ruling had clearly prohibited this practice of employing them as «bogus self-employed» workers. For those affected, this means: no fixed hourly wage, no vacation, no social security, and no proper employment contracts. On top of that, many delivery riders work in isolation, which makes it harder for unions to even reach them.

A Pop-Up Restaurant as a Channel for Labor Rights

Freundliche Grüsse’s strategy was simple and straightforward: Under the name «Riders Rights,» the well-known Zurich pizzeria Derby registered as a partner restaurant on the Uber Eats app. Over the course of two days, Derby customers and Syndicom activists placed countless orders throughout the city—with the goal of speaking to as many Uber Eats delivery drivers as possible when they picked up the orders. There, the delivery drivers were informed about their rights and urged to put pressure on Uber.

Communication took place across multiple channels simultaneously: Posters and flyers displayed around the Derby restaurant conveyed the main message and directed people to the campaign website, where drivers could find information in various languages, provide feedback on Uber, and get involved in the union’s cause. In addition, labor law experts were on site.

Riders' Rights Campaign: The Goal Is to Grant Uber Drivers True Employee Status

The campaign aims to ensure that the message reaches not only the couriers but also Uber itself. According to the press release, the goal of the campaign is for the company to finally commit to being a responsible employer in Switzerland and to create fair working conditions. Full coverage of the campaign is available on Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/freundlichegruesse/ridersrights

More information about the campaign, as well as materials in various languages, can be found on the campaign website: https://ridersrights.syndicom.ch/

Responsible at Friendly regards: Samuel Textor (Creative), Pascal Deville (Creative), Damian Del Fabbro (Consulting), Pascal Duschletta (Film), Pascal Pfohl (Film). Responsible at Syndicom: Urs Zbinden (National Secretary), Matthias Loosli (Media Spokesperson).