According to union leaders, aggregator platforms attempted to blunt the impact of the strike by deploying third-party delivery firms, offering additional incentives and temporarily reactivating inactive IDs to keep operations running.
Hyderabad: Gig workers staged a “flash strike” on Sunday, with scores of delivery partners voluntarily avoiding orders and others participating in bike rallies organised by various unions to highlight their demands, as part of a pan-India strike call.
Key issues raised included reconsideration of the 10-minute delivery norm and the alleged blocking of worker IDs without valid reasons.
Some customers reported delayed service or no response at all on their bookings.
A day after announcing a two-day, all-India strike on Christmas (December 25) and New Year’s Eve (December 31) — among the busiest days for delivery platforms — gig workers said the protest was aimed at drawing attention to deteriorating working conditions.
“Thousands of delivery workers from major platforms participated in the flash strike, protesting unsafe working conditions, unfair pay, algorithmic control, ID blocking, and denial of dignity and social security in the city,” said Shaik Salauddin, co-founder and national general secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT).
He alleged that workers faced intimidation during the strike, including the blocking of IDs of key leaders, team leaders and active workers, as well as threats and coercion by company representatives. “Despite these actions, workers remained united and continued their protest peacefully, leading to major disruptions in delivery services. The strike had a significant nationwide impact of 50-60 per cent,” Salauddin claimed.
According to union leaders, aggregator platforms attempted to blunt the impact of the strike by deploying third-party delivery firms, offering additional incentives and temporarily reactivating inactive IDs to keep operations running.
The disruption also triggered reactions on social media. Complaining about an app-based service not being available, Abdus Zeeshan wrote on X: “Is it because of the strike? If it is, well done riders — make the corporates bow down.”
Customer support activity remained brisk. A check by Deccan Chronicle found that support handles of the app-based services were actively responding to customer complaints as well as to delivery workers whose IDs had been deactivated.
“How long does it take to check? I have opted for VIP service and still you’re taking two days to resolve the issue. If that is the case, why did you charge extra for a VIP order?” asked customer Sai Krishna Yadav.
There were also complaints of order mix-ups. A customer alleged that he was delivered non-vegetarian food despite ordering from a pure vegetarian outlet. “It’s a serious violation of food safety, religious and personal beliefs. I have already raised this via email (27013427), but there’s zero response,” Murali Krishna posted.
