Ömür Sönmez is a delivery person at home delivery and founder of Radical Riders, a trade union for meal deliverers. A critical article cost him his job at the Thuisbezorgd. Yesterday he demonstrated in Amsterdam against this state of affairs.
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Today is Ömür’s last day as a meal delivery boy and he ends his career with a demonstration against his employer. Last month, Ömür published a critical article about working conditions within the company on the website of the Radical Riders union. “That is why my contract was not extended,” he tells NH Nieuws.
Broken brakes
Ömür had several criticisms of the company in his article. For example, there are often no toilet seats in the toilets, there are no breaks, the wages are too low and the bicycles are too dangerous. “You always have to go through three bikes before you find a bike with a working brake,” he explains.
“A bicycle courier was recently hit by a bicycle in Amsterdam because his brakes were not working,” says a colleague of Ömür. “Things like that are unacceptable and we are committed to that.”
‘You’re just out’
The group has gathered in front of a so-called ‘hub’ of Thuisbezorgd, this is a central meeting place for the working delivery people. “Home delivery has often refused to start the conversation,” says another colleague. “Messages will be deleted, your hours will be cut and in Ömür’s case you will just be out.”
Home delivery could not be reached for comment.
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