Uber Eats customers went hungry for the second consecutive day as staff blocked City of London streets in protest of a pay cut.
More than 100 Uber Eats riders jammed the junction where Commercial Street meets Whitechapel Road after Uber imposed a new pay structure on staff.
The new minimum delivery fee has been reduced, as has the minimum order, down to £3.50.
Drivers say the changes have halved their earning potential, and are demanding the fees be revised.
Uber has an office at Aldgate Tower, a building which had to be put on lockdown as Metropolitan Police ensured the campaign remained peaceful.
A spokesman for Uber Eats said that changes to pay follow a consultation with couriers about how to “maximise their earnings”.
“In response we’re making some changes to our payment structure in Birmingham, London and Manchester, which also bring these cities more in line with the rest of the UK.
“The changes will help increase courier earnings during busy mealtimes, while providing more transparency on when and where the potential to earn is highest.
“To provide couriers with confidence the new system will improve earnings during the busiest times, we’re also introducing minimum payment guarantees of £9-11 an hour. Making improvements in response to courier feedback is a top priority, such as the sickness, injury, maternity and paternity protections we recently introduced.
“Our door is always open for individual couriers to speak to us about any issues they’re having.”
Drivers appeared to have the support of customers on social media after it became clear why their orders were not arriving on time.
Solidarity to the #ubereats drivers who are shutting down Aldgate East outside Uber HQ in protest over pay.
— Carrie Benjamin (@CBanthro) September 20, 2018
This is what happens when you don’t pay your workers fairly. #uber #UberEATS #protest #london pic.twitter.com/OoClz3Avk5
— A.J Murphy (@EqArtists) September 20, 2018
It is not the first time this year Uber has been at the root of road blockades in London.
In January, black cab drivers brought London Bridge to a standstill as part of a five-day protest against Uber and Transport for London.
