Closure of ecocarrier announced days after betriebsrat election
“Zero waste” company treats riders as disposable
Worker’s rights left behind in the fight for environmental sustainability
“I was once standing with this bike in the middle of the street, unable to move it because of mechanical problems, while an ambulance needed to pass through.”
–ecoCarrier worker
BERLIN, GERMANY, 15 FEBRUARY 2023 – 20 fired workers fight back against mass
terminations of December and January 2023.
We, the recently fired bike delivery workers of the Berlin branch of ecoCARRIER AG and VeloCARRIER GmbH are fighting back after a long struggle with management ended in mass dismissals. Although claiming a sustainable and equitable image, these companies provide working conditions that are as bad as, or even worse, than companies like Gorillaz. After months of riding half-broken bikes, massive work overload, and a lack of communication and false promises, the ecoCARRIER AG and VeloCARRIER GMBH are now allegedly closing all their operations in Berlin, terminating the contracts of over 20 workers in one month. We started to organize ourselves and are now sueing the companies and organizing protests.
We endured dangerous and chaotic working conditions: Our e-bikes weren’t maintained, resulting in multiple accidents. Due to massive work overload as well as unavailable communication and support from management, the burned-out branch management quit. Missing management capacities had to be filled by workers without proper onboarding or compensation. The company delayed written contracts, paid workers irregularly, illegaly deregistered them from health insurance. On November 30th, CEO Raimund Rassilier came to Berlin. He told us that our problems where caused by the former branch management and that the restructuring of the company will solve the problems by January 2023. He assured us that the Berlin branch would even expand within the city and our jobs were safe.
Four weeks later: The mass termination of workers. The few remaining workers were promised job safety. A few weeks after this first wave of terminations, a Betriebsrat election was called. Despite the failure of the management to provide a list of workers eligible to vote, all workers attended the election. Shortly thereafter, Rassilier announced via phone that the Berlin branch would be shut down. The remaining workers received their termination letters in the days following.
The management has ignored 3 demand letters and refuses any discussion. We now bring our case to the public.
Timeline
• 09.01.2023 – First demand letter to management sent, addressing the problems in the company and demanding severance pay for all terminated workers and a raise in salary for the remaining workers.
• 16.01.2023 – Second letter to management sent, announcing that workers are now organizing under FAU Berlin, addressing that we did not receive an answer from them and that we will make our case public.
•16.02.2023 – First court support action.
•10.02.2023 – Third letter to the management sent, including information about the intention to inform the public.
•15.02.2023 – Official press statement sent.
• 24.02.23. – Second demo/rally & larger court support.
Upcoming events—please join us!
Court Hearings on 16.02.23, 24.02.23, 02.03.23, 14.03.23, 24.03.23
• 16.02.023 – First, court support action
Meeting Time: 9:00
First Court Appointment: 9:40 am
Last Court Appointment: 13:00 pm
• 24.02.23. – Second, demo & larger court support action
Meeting: 12:00 Magdeburger Platz 1, 10785 Berlin
14:00 Bicycle ride to the demonstration site from the labor court
12:40 Court hearing
15:15 Demonstration in front of the Prenzlauer Berg distribution center
(Lilli-Henoch-Straße 21, 10405 Berlin)
We invite you to attend the upcoming events and are happy to offer interviews both at the events and at any other time convenient. Thank you very much for your kind attention.