By Derek Kotz
Industrial reporter

DELIVEROO couriers organised by the IWGB union are refusing to deliver food from a south London restaurant embroiled in a dispute over unpaid wages and alleged breaches of Covid-19 restricitons.

Staff at Bala Baya in Lambeth say they are owed tens of thousands of pounds in overtime and holiday pay and have issued employment tribunal proceedings with the help of their own union, the IWW.

The IWW also alleges serious breaches of Covid regulations, including people being forced to work while on furlough and that staff were threatened with the sack if they spoke out.

Sister union IWGB, which organises chiefly among low-paid and vulnerable workers, is urging its members not to collect deliveries from Bala Baya “until the food workers win.”

Courier Jake Thomas told the Star: “Deliveroo riders from the IWGB couriers’ branch will be boycotting all orders from Bala Baya when they reopen on the platform on Monday and will continue to do so until the workers win their demands.

“We are calling for all Deliveroo riders in Southwark and Lambeth to back their fellow food workers and do the same. They can sign the pledge at: ridersroovolt.com/bala-baya-boycott/

“The Bala Baya staff are an inspiring example of workers flexing their collective might and proving why it’s so important to be active in a union. No-one should tolerate unsafe conditions and wage thefts.”

An IWW spokesman said: “The workers at Bala Baya initially came to the IWW because they’d been forced to work while on furlough. We then discovered a pattern of systematic wage theft and health and safety failures.

“The IWGB’s action demonstrates the value of rank-and-file unionism where cross-union solidarity action is a natural expression of organising efforts.

“Their solidarity has been a source of both inspiration and power for the Bala Baya workers.”

The restaurant’s owners were invited to comment.