Cyclist wins ‘gig economy’ case

A cyclist supported by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has won a case against companies that classify their workers as independent contractors.

According to IWGB, the London Central Employment Tribunal found Excel was “acting unlawfully by classifying bicycle courier Andrew Boxer as an independent contractor and denying him his holiday pay. The company was ordered to pay one weeks unpaid holiday pay.”

Workers are entitled to holiday pay, minimum wage and protection against discrimination.

At the same time the union simultaneously brought test cases against four courier companies – CitySprint, Excel, Addison Lee and Ecourier – on 22 March, 2016.