A collective of food delivery riders in Edinburgh has called upon dominant gig economy platforms, Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat, to provide transparency regarding the artificial intelligence algorithms that govern their work. The riders contend that increased automation by these companies has led to reduced pay rates and deteriorated working conditions. This demand for clarity comes as many riders report making significantly less money for the same hours worked compared to previous years.
David, a food delivery rider in Edinburgh for seven years, stated that his earnings have halved over the past four years despite consistent working hours. This sentiment is echoed by Xabier Villares, a rider for eight years and lead organizer for the Workers' Observatory, who noted a "dramatic change in the last three years." The Workers' Observatory, a charity founded by gig economy workers and academics from St Andrews and Edinburgh universities, aims to help riders investigate and challenge concealed aspects of their working experience.
One rider, Dylan, who has worked for Deliveroo in Scotland for over five years, has maintained detailed records of his income, orders, and average pay per order since mid-2023. His data shows that while his hourly order delivery rate remained stable between 3.6 and 3.8, the average fee per order steadily declined. This fee dropped from £3.67 in 2023 to £3.63 in 2024, £3.51 in 2025, and £3.42 in the first half of 2026. Dylan attributes these declining rates to the algorithm and the introduction of "stacked orders," where riders accept multiple deliveries for less than they would earn for separate deliveries.
The riders' concerns align with broader calls for algorithmic transparency in the gig economy. A coalition including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Amnesty International, and Privacy International previously urged Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats in January 2025 to be more open about how their algorithms make decisions on pay and job allocation. This coalition argued that the opaque use of algorithms "automates exploitation" and creates "precarity, stress, and misery" for workers by withholding vital information.
Deliveroo, for its part, refers to its algorithm as "Frank," describing it as machine-learning technology that predicts order timings and aims to help riders complete more deliveries and earn more money. Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat have all stated that their riders earn more than the national living wage while actively on an order, though this does not account for time spent waiting for job offers. A Deliveroo spokesperson indicated that the minimum hourly fee for riders on an order increased by 3.8% this year, an above-inflation rise.
The Workers' Observatory has received research funding for the next decade and has previously conducted experiments to monitor the variable pay levels offered by algorithms, a system known as "dynamic pricing." Trades unions are campaigning to ban this practice, arguing it creates uncertainty for workers regarding their earnings. Research from the University of Oxford and Columbia Business School in New York found that Uber drivers earned "substantially less" per hour after the introduction of a dynamic pricing algorithm in 2023.
The issue of algorithmic management extends beyond pay. In February 2025, digital rights groups and trade unions issued an open letter calling on food delivery platforms to maintain a public register of algorithms, provide personalized explanations for algorithmic decisions, and allow workers and public interest groups to audit algorithmic operations. These groups argue that such transparency is essential for workers to understand their employment terms, challenge decisions, and uncover potential issues within the algorithms.
The legal status of gig economy workers in the UK remains a point of contention. While platforms often classify workers as self-employed, court rulings, such as the 2021 Supreme Court judgment in Uber BV v Aslam, have determined that some gig workers are "workers" and thus entitled to certain employment rights, including the National Minimum Wage. The Employment Rights Act 2025 is set to introduce reforms for lower-paid and insecure workers, with details being finalized through regulations.
Concerns about worker safety have also been raised. Unions have warned that intense competition for orders, driven by the current pay structures, forces food delivery riders to take risks. Research from Heriot-Watt University, presented to Members of Parliament, detailed how pay based on delivery numbers and fierce competition encourages risky behavior among riders. This research found that over 80% of couriers reported engaging in risky road behavior, and 62% were dissatisfied with their pay rates.