Crowded squares, waving flags, and the anger of those who pedal every day to deliver food and medicine, yet feel forgotten. On Friday, November 7, self-employed riders invaded eight Italian cities—Rome, Naples, Florence, Bari, Palermo, Catania, Trapani, and Chioggia—to demand what they consider a denied right: the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement signed in 2020 with the UGL (Italian General Confederation of Labour and Labor) and never updated.
The alarm cry from Piazza Santi Apostoli
In Rome, in a packed Piazza Santi Apostoli, UGL General Secretary Paolo Capone hailed the historic significance of the agreement, the first of its kind in Europe. "It was a revolutionary contract. There's nothing like it anywhere in Europe. A package that allows riders to demand their rights, and it's the first time it's happened," Capone declared before hundreds of workers.
But that achievement, five years later, has become worthless. "The failure to renew has resulted in a denial of the right to a compensation review and an update of the regulatory conditions," explained Gianluca Mancini, general secretary of Ugl Rider.
The contract, originally an experimental one, was designed to protect self-employed riders with better wages, greater safety, and a clear regulatory framework. It has now expired, and the platforms are ignoring requests for discussion.
A price paid dearly
Capone didn't hide the cost of that union battle: "The UGL offices in Italy were attacked and vandalized for this contract. We paid the price, but it was a sacrosanct job." Today, with the contract suspended until 2020, riders find themselves without the tools to defend themselves from inflation, workplace risks, and increasingly precarious conditions.
Invisible but essential workers
"Many think it's the work of ghosts," added Capone, "but instead it's a socially useful job that allows many families to have the support of those who bring food, medicine, or anything else they need." An army of invisible people who brave traffic, bad weather, and low wages every day to guarantee essential services.
The protest also touched the landmarks of the cities involved: from Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples to the streets of Palermo and Bari. In several cities—Rome, Naples, and Palermo—union representatives were received by prefects, a sign that the alarm had also reached the institutions.
The request is clear: immediately reopen discussions with delivery platforms to renew an agreement that has made history, but which today risks becoming just a memory.
- Article updated on 07/11/2025 at 13:00 - Typo corrected
Comments (1)
Reading this article made me realize how important it is for riders to have an updated contract. It seems their requests have been ignored, and that's unfair. They deserve rights.