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People ordering takeaway meals to be delivered on Friday evening might be in for a long wait, after Deliveroo riders in Bristol announced an all-out strike.

Both Deliveroo’s cyclists and scooter riders have pledged to gather in the city centre from 6pm on Friday and down tools - literally switch off their apps and refuse to take on any more deliveries.

The riders are protesting about pay and working conditions, claiming that changes made by Deliveroo had affected their ability to make a living from the job.

They said that they will log out of their delivery apps from 6pm for the rest of the night in the first officially organised strike in Bristol as part of the current dispute.

(Image: Bristol Post)

The protest is the latest in an escalating industrial dispute between riders and the bosses of the food delivery service app.

After a national strike on October 4, the dispute in Bristol continued.

Back on December 11, a mass rally of scooter riders filled the streets of the Old City around Corn Street in Bristol, as riders descended on the Deliveroo office in Bristol with a list of grievances.

Later that afternoon, an unofficial strike saw deliveries all but grind to a halt - only a handful of restaurants were still left offering a delivery service that night.

This time, the riders said the shutdown will be even more widespread.

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They said they are not guaranteed a minimum wage per hour, their job is classed as self-employed so they have no pension, holiday or sick pay and must cover their own equipment costs and pay their own tax and national insurance on their earnings.

Now riders are saying that the amount Deliveroo pays is not enough to earn a living as a full-time job, and they have issued a list of demands on pay and conditions.

Riders met with management on Friday last week, and emerged from the meeting saying they were unconvinced by the management’s response.

Bike courier Tyrone was at the meeting and said riders were not reassured.

“While hundreds of riders are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table, this attitude from management sums up why we're taking action on Friday - when Deliveroo decides it does care about what its workers want, we'll be ready to talk,” he said.

“Until then, the only way we can see pay and conditions improving for us if we fight for them,” he added.

The courier said changes to the way Deliveroo pays its riders - and the unpaid waits they have to make to collect food mean many are struggling.

Riders who arrive at a restaurant to pick up food are often made to wait for it - and sit there not being paid when they could be earning money on another delivery.

“Deliveroo changed our pay last year - they said this would mean we earned more. But instead they cut pay and riders have had to work longer distances for less money,” he said.

“Deliveroo have repeatedly said they are working to deal with long wait times, but in reality they are shifting the cost onto riders who still face waits of 20 minutes or longer.

"Last year Deliveroo doubled their revenue thanks to us - couriers doing hard, dangerous work, working long hours in all weather.

(Image: Bristol Post)

“They are now valued at more than £1 billion. But despite this they have squeezed our pay and refused to improve conditions.

“We know they can afford to pay us more - on average we reckon they make £10 or more per order - but for doing all the work we are paid about £4 of this,” he added.

A spokesperson for Deliveroo defended the company's package for riders, and said pay has been going up.

"Deliveroo is proud to create well-paid flexible work that allows riders to choose when and where to work," he said.

"We listen carefully to rider feedback and have worked hard to address issues raised in our regular help hubs, particularly around restaurant wait time.

"Obviously we are disappointed this action was announced by a group of riders before our recent meeting, but we will continue to engage across the city improving the rider experience every chance we get.

"Riders earn on average well over £10 an hour in Bristol and average earnings have gone up in the city since month on month," he added.