PROTESTING food delivery drivers have been told the payment model is designed to give them 'flexibility'.
JustEat has responded to claims by its drivers in Worcester about its rate of pay following a protest staged in Worcester on Friday.
The two-hour strike outside Mcdonalds' restaurants in Blackpole Road and Hylton Road. was a direct response to the rising cost of fuel in the UK.
Drivers feel JustEat was not matching wages appropriately to counter the rising costs.
A Just Eat spokesperson said: “We take any concerns raised by our couriers seriously. Our delivery payment model has been designed to give couriers the flexibility to deliver when they choose.
"We continue to offer a competitive base rate to self-employed couriers and pay is reviewed regularly."
Sebastian Micu, a local delivery driver and one of the organisers of the strike, believes that flexibility is a benefit of the role but the pay is still not enough.
He said: "There is no doubt that this is a flexible job, but with rising prices of fuel across the UK we do not know what to do for the future."
Read More: Worcester food delivery drivers protest over payment
A collective email was sent to JustEat by Worcester-based drivers which said: "With the current fuel prices, living costs and insurance costs which keep increasing in the UK, it's becoming very hard for us to keep up and doing deliveries for you guys.
"In order for us to work for you guys, we need to pay car insurance, food insurance, maintenance in our vehicles and more importantly fuel.
"The last few months all we've seen is increasing costs for everything and decreasing pay per delivery.
"We want to ask Just Eat to start increasing pay per delivery plus fee boost like some areas in the UK. "
"We expect you guys to support all your drivers working every day and not making us work for almost free.
"I hope you understand our frustration and I wish you a great day ahead."
Drivers from Deliveroo and UberEats were also at the demonstration in solidarity against their wages.
A second protest planned for this week has been discussed but no date has been finalised.
