Digital platforms like Uber Eats and Glovo have demonstrated the demand for delivery services, as well as the possibilities of these applications for delivering meals or other products.
At the same time, most of the earnings end up staying for the platform while the couriers are in a precarious situation, subject to income variations and a situation of uncertainty about their future.
As a possible solution, there is the CoopCycleThe application is managed by the cooperative's employees, and a direct relationship between courier, partner, and consumer becomes possible without the intermediation of a company that keeps most of the profits. The application is now managed by the cooperative's workers, and a direct relationship between courier, partner and consumer becomes possible, without the intermediation of a company that keeps most of the profits. This platform is already being used in several European cities.
In a context where relay activity is increasingly visible, as demonstrated in the current pandemic, a cooperative of this kind proves to be more and more valid and possible.
In a cooperative platform, besides the gains that would remain only for the workers, it would be possible to implement forms of social protection or mutalism that could guarantee security in the face of situations of illness, accident or unemployment.
At the same time, it would also be possible to establish other kinds of relationships with partners - possibly by supporting small businesses and other cooperative/social projects - and consumers.
With the platform available, and the essentials of the other means (smartphone, bicycle, etc.), the challenge is to gather enough people with the will to start and carry out a relay cooperative.
For this, an open meeting will take place next Thursday, July 9th, at Cicloficina dos Anjos. We will discuss the idea, the possibilities and wills, possible partners and support (some already identified), the next steps, organizational forms, etc.
This meeting is open to current, former and future relays, as well as people interested in the project in general. The meeting will take place at the Cicloficina dos Anjos according to the current social distancing rules. Given the number of people interested in the event, the most likely meeting will be at Jardim da Paz/Garden Maria de Lourdes Pintassilgo, which is next to the Cicloficina and in front of the Hospital dos Capuchos. Attendance at the meeting is free and does not require any appointment. However, it is advisable to indicate your willingness to attend the meeting in order to plan it in the best way.
Text by Nuno Rodrigues. Contact for more information and to confirm availability: nmdrodrigues@gmail.com / +351 912 611 396.
