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Riders brave extreme heat, strike for health and wages
15 Jul
Summary
- Delivery riders in Italy are striking due to extreme heat and poor working conditions.
- Workers in Milan, Bologna, and Florence are protesting for better wages and health protection.
- Similar heat-related worker protection issues are surfacing across Europe.
Delivery riders in multiple Italian cities are set to strike this Wednesday, protesting the harsh working conditions exacerbated by extreme summer heat. In Milan, where authorities have limited deliveries during peak heat hours until September, riders for Glovo and Deliveroo plan an evening work stoppage. They are demanding better health protections and fair wages.
Similar actions are planned in Bologna and Florence, with riders switching off apps and demonstrating. Temperatures in Florence are expected to reach 40C this week. These strikes underscore a wider European issue, as 130 million workers annually face heat stress, according to the European Trade Union Institute.
Concerns extend to Spain, where Glovo riders in Andalusia found summer heat protocols insufficient at nearly 45C. In France, teachers' unions have addressed working conditions during heatwaves. Milan's new regulations require delivery services to reduce or suspend operations between 12:30 and 16:00 on critical days, prioritizing cooler work times and providing water and breaks.
However, unions like Nildil Cgil believe companies and local authorities need to ensure riders do not lose income while prioritizing their health. In Florence and Tuscany, outdoor work is restricted during the hottest hours, but many workers cannot afford to stop working. Discussions on social safety nets are scheduled with labor ministry officials in Rome on Thursday.
