Let me explain why.
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The commotion around the gig economy is about the future.
Organizations defending the interests of workers generally fear such developments.
Trade unions in particular dread the fact that employees will become more vulnerable by the platformization of labor.
Effort to have platform constructions checked in court have led to mixed outcomes.
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Platforms might not be a curse, but a blessing for trade unions.
Platforms also benefit from happy workers
Platforms benefit from happy platform workers.
First and foremost because drivers at Uber and bicycle deliverers at Deliveroo are the companys physical faces.
They have offline contact with the clients they recruit online.
Secondly, because workers can easily switch to any competitor at any time.
We observe a rising number available platforms and yet platform workers have no obligatory contracts with any app-based platform.
Moreover, the majority of these kinds of gigs arent arranged by any platform at all.
Deliverers hired by restaurants are still in charge of transporting a vast majority of all meals.
The platforms deliverers deliveronly about 1.4 percent.
By technologically increasing convenience, they consequently provide opportunities for these markets to grow.
This offers unique possibilities for trade unions.
They are able to start the conversation with a group of workers that they couldnt have reached before.
Data and algorithms could support compliance with made agreements
Platforms lower transaction costs through automation.
They match supply and demand.
Yet, how they achieve their purposes is mostly unclear.
Algorithms are broadly seen and referred to as opaque black boxes in a transparent real world.
Allow me to state my opinion: the real world isnt that transparent and honest at all.
When a trade union makes collective agreements, its still questionable if these are being complied with.
With algorithms, the compliance of such agreements can be secured.
This offers opportunities to reinvent the way trade unions work.
Whats interesting about this is that this is typically the task of trade unions.
Belgium cooperative SMart tried this out (in a way) two years ago.
They acted as a key in of union for deliverers when Deliveroo and Take Eat Easy set up shop.
And when Take Eat Easy went bankrupt, SMart guaranteed the payment of about340,000 in outstanding invoicesfor the deliverers.
There are some challenges for riders that want to strike though.
This can become a main bottleneck in creating a counterparty to platforms and specifically in organizing strikes.
Which is an opportunity for trade unions.
I see this as a joint responsibility for platforms, social partners, and governments.
I hope this blog was one of the sparks needed to lighten up this debate.
