More than 2,000 bicycle delivery men, of which 400 to 500 are undocumented and 200 to 300 live in squats, criss-cross the Bordeaux conurbation tirelessly to deliver meals in record time. During the 2020 municipal campaign, the union of Bordeaux couriersattached to the CGT, had formulated the request for a place of rest and access to hygiene for these workers.
She had the ear of the environmental team of Mayor Pierre Hurmic (EELV) since a “house of couriers” will be inaugurated at the end of the month on Place André-Meunier, near the station, before a more permanent move. in the old house of the metropolis, located near the CHU, after works. Co-opcycle will be in charge of the management of the structure.
Access to rights, hygiene and soon employment
“There is a problem of access to rights, to hygiene and generalized insecurity since these deliverers do not have an employment contract and are paid with a slingshot, explains Stéphane Pfeiffer, deputy mayor in charge of resilient urbanism. The union suggested that we create a place to be able to work individually on their life course. »
On the Place André-Meunier, they will be able to store their bicycles, access a minimum of hygiene and benefit from the permanence of the Cimade, the CCAS, lawyers, etc. When the house is permanently installed near the CHU, there will be an additional employment component in their support. The financing of this delivery house is provided by the city and the metropolis.
If this structure is “not an end in itself”, comments Arthur, founder of the union of bicycle couriers and ex-deliverer from Bordeaux, it has the merit of allowing “to create solidarity between delivery people with the aim of undermine uberization”. Local authorities are replacing platforms here, but couriers are not renouncing the idea of making them contribute in the future.
A somewhat similar structure but accessible only in the evening has already seen the light of day in Nancy in 2021 and in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, but in a slightly less ambitious version.