Outsmarting the gig-economy through collective bargaining - EU competition law as a barrier to smart cities?

Schiek, Dagmar and Gideon, AK ORCID: 0000-0002-6790-8545 (2018) Outsmarting the gig-economy through collective bargaining - EU competition law as a barrier to smart cities? International Review of Law, Computers and Technology, 32 (2-3). pp. 275-294.

Text Schiek and Gideon (2018 - author accepted manuscript) Outsmarting the gig economy.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (833kB)

Abstract

In August 2016, drivers delivering meals in London after being booked via the platforms ‘deliveroo’ and ‘UberEATS’ made headlines by challenging working practices in the gig-economy through collective industrial action. Dissatisfaction resulted from extremely low levels of pay as well as a new payment calculation system being introduced without consultation. This indicates that the ‘gig-economy’, though arguably contributing to ‘smart cities’, may not always constitute the smartest solution for those serving within it. However, it also highlights that collective industrial action is far from structurally impossible for workers in the ‘gig-economy’, even though management of labour relies on anonymous and automated micro-management through internet platforms and apps. Indeed, collective organisation may seem the smartest solution for upgrading the gig-economy for its workers. This article develops an original contribution to the interface of smart technology in the gig-economy, collective labour rights, and EU competition law. We identify that EU competition law as interpreted by the Court of Justice would hinder collective organisation of those serving the gig-economy and develop a comprehensive re interpretation which allows adaptation of EU competition law to smart employment markets.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	gig-economy, self-employed workers, collective labour rights, collective bargaining, EU competition law
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	13 Apr 2018 07:41
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 06:36
DOI:	10.1080/13600869.2018.1457001
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3020100