WageIndicator - How and why does the platform worker protest? Scientists provide overview and insights

Author: Martijn Arets (Website - LinkedIn - Twitter)

Taxi and delivery platforms determine the working conditions, access to labor, and pay of millions of workers worldwide. This frequently leads to protests by this group of workers. Reporting on such protests is mostly incomplete: news reports deal with isolated incidents and often give little background information. This is undesirable because understanding the dynamics behind these protests, workers' wishes, and the protests' organization are essential to finding solutions.

That is why a research team from the University of Leeds (UK) has mapped nearly 2,000 worker protests. This Leeds Index of Platform Labour Protest shows differences and similarities, for example, between the platform economy and the regular labor market.

For The Gig Work Podcast from the WageIndicator Foundation, I took the train to Leeds to interview Vera Trappmann and Simon Joyce, two researchers behind this project.

Simon Joyce and Vera Trappman, Leeds Index

The story can be listened to as an episode of the Gig Work Podcast.

Why an index?

Trappmann explains that the Leeds Index of Platform Labour Protest multidisciplinary team consisted of six researchers, each fascinated with platform work. Besides Joyce and Trappmann, researchers Loulia Bessa, Denis Neumann, Mark Stuart, and Charles Umney are also involved in the project. The researchers' common problem was a lack of understanding and overview of protests worldwide.

"We knew something about protests in the UK, for example, but very little about protests in Italy or Argentina," she explains. "Let alone that we could make comparisons. We wanted to do something about that. Not just for ourselves. The aim was to compile a database useful for everyone involved, from activists to trade unions and policymakers."

Collecting data

The first big challenge was data collection. For this, the researchers worked with GDELT (Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone), a joint project of parties such as Google, Yahoo, and several independent programmers. This software searches for newspaper data worldwide, collects relevant info, and translates the texts. In this way, the Leeds Index of Platform Labour Protest gained access to millions of news stories about protests by platform workers.

Through the GDELT database, they can also look up specific information. For example, in which countries are workers demonstrating against Uber? The researchers have mapped motivations, appearances, people involved, and duration.

"Machine learning makes data collection easier, but interpretation remains human work," says Trappmann. "We needed a big team for that. To give you an idea: there is now information on more than 2,000 protests in the index. So that was a big job, where a large group of postdoctoral researchers, fortunately, helped us."

Informal occasional formations

The index has been around for three years and provides more insight, for example, on what makes protests by platform workers different from old-fashioned strikes. The work done by taxi drivers and delivery drivers is not new. Protests in these professions are also not entirely new but are more common among platform workers.

"The big difference is that drivers used to often really work as sole traders or for a small company," Joyce explains. "Now they all work through one big platform. The fact that several workers have complaints about a common opponent leads them to seek each other out more easily to take action. These protest groups are often informal occasional formations, whereas previously they were more often initiated by a union."

Working relationships less important than pay

In the US and Europe, there are many debates about the employment relationship of platform workers. In other words, are they employees or self-employed? Leeds Index of Platform Labour Protest data shows that that issue is far from universal. Joyce: "So being an employee is not equally valuable everywhere. In Europe, for example, an employment contract means you are entitled to a minimum wage; elsewhere in the world, it is not."

The index shows that platform workers worldwide have the most complaints about pay. Logical, Joyce thinks. "Platforms lured drivers to their app with the promise of earning more money," he explains. "They deliver on that promise for a while, but soon the algorithm puts pressure on rates. That's a big problem, especially for platform workers who depend entirely on work through the app."

Joyce also frequently spots trends that he can trace back to other developments. "For example, we saw that platform workers in South America were more concerned about health and safety issues during the corona pandemic," says the researcher. "I am sure that in another five years, we will be able to analyze much more information."

On-location platform work

The information concerns protests by on-location platform workers, such as taxi and delivery drivers. Joyce: "Although online platform workers also unite and protest, their protests are much less visible."

Eventually, the researchers want to extend the data to more occupational groups. "We can also apply our research method to protests not about the platform economy," says Trappmann. "For example, we are already working with the International Labour Organisation to map protests in the healthcare sector using our methodology."

Furthermore, they have started a series of country-specific reporting of protests by platform workers. The researchers are also open to collaborations, for example, with unions that want a report with information on a specific sector.

Trade unions are more often involved

Indeed, although most protests by platform workers are organized informally, the trade union is increasingly playing a role. "Our analysis shows that in 30% of cases worldwide, a trade union is involved," says Trappmann. "In half of the cases, the initiative comes from that union; the other half of the time, such a union later joins the group."

Trappmann thinks this is positive. She sees all kinds of ways existing unions can support the new protest groups. To do that, though, they need to listen carefully to those workers' wants, needs and ideas.

Tips for the union

"Old-fashioned strikes may work for workers, but they don't suit platform workers," she explains. "My tip to unions: be open to new ideas and real cooperation with these informal groups. Delve into their needs, learn from them, and support where you can."

When platform workers organize, these collaborations are often short-lived. How can a trade union movement perpetuate its relationship with platform workers? "I know of examples of unions that have hired platform workers, and that works well," she says. "That way, they secure knowledge and keep a connection with the target group."

Conclusion

The team behind the index is doing important work. It is precious for all stakeholders that there is now more insight into the organization and goals of protests and international differences. The Leeds Index is an excellent example of how researchers can make scientific and social impacts. 

What strikes me most is that workers' motivations vary significantly from continent to continent. Platform workers in Asia are above average and more likely to fight for higher pay (74.9%). In North America, they stand up for their status and working conditions, while in Latin America and Africa, it is more often about health and safety. Platform workers in Africa also regularly protest for compensation for the materials needed to carry out the work.

Such data and insights give better insight into the forms of protest and workers' wishes. The team behind Index is objective and looks at the various platforms' context. This is particularly pleasing. I will accept the invitation to visit again in five years; I am eager to see the developments and lessons learned.