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Riding together? Why app-mediated food delivery couriers join trade unions in Austria

Author

Listed:
  • Leonard Geyer

    (European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Austria)

  • Kurt Vandaele

    (European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), Brussels, Belgium)

  • Nicolas Prinz

    (European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

A burgeoning literature has analysed how and why platform workers express their (collective) voice. While this ‘willingness to act’ of platform workers is evidenced across several countries, there is little research on their ‘willingness to pay’, however. Are platform workers willing to become dues paying union members? Exploiting novel survey data from Austria, this article addresses this gap by analysing the propensity of app-mediated food delivery couriers to join trade unions. Similarly to traditional industries, the findings demonstrate that the decision to join a union is driven by instrumental and value-rational motivations. Compared to employed couriers, those on ‘free-service provider contracts’, i.e. freelancers, are less likely to unionise, however. Also, short expected job tenure and limited personal contacts hinder unionisation in app-mediated food delivery. Yet unions are not without tools: they can significantly improve relationships between them and the couriers by supporting grassroots activists.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonard Geyer & Kurt Vandaele & Nicolas Prinz, 2024. "Riding together? Why app-mediated food delivery couriers join trade unions in Austria," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 45(3), pages 835-858, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:45:y:2024:i:3:p:835-858
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X231195151
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