Why would you want to go to London’s only “courier-led bicycle and racing extravaganza”?
Well, it’s not all about bicycles and racing, and it’s open to everyone over the age of 18, not just cycle couriers. Last year’s event featured a squat party, and a roller race which included DJ’s and a bunch of bands including Team Spider and the Deadly Treadleys. And of course, the opportunity to drink lots of beer.
Deadley Treadleys at London's Calling 2007
This year’s event promises to be even better than last, with more races, more prizes, and, erm, probably more beer. There’s a £100 tattoo voucher up for grabs too, so if you enter you stand a chance of winning a free tattoo.
What’s more, all profits from the event will be donated to the London Courier Emergency Fund.
london courier emergency fund to the rescue!
The current situation in the courier industry is one of blatant exploitation; various courier companies across London and elsewhere are notorious for flouting employment laws and standards. Because most riders are paid per delivery rather than per hour, some cycle couriers often earn below the minimum wage (how about £12.50 for a 9 hour day?) in a day. The companies get around this by classifying their employees as self-employed subcontractors.
Despite being classified as self-employed subcontractors, some companies exert full control over the messengers – some are forced to wear (and pay for) company uniform, essentially providing free advertisement for the company; most are prohibited from doing work for other companies or choosing their own hours. In other words, they are treated just like employees, except they get none of the benefits – the only party who really benefits from this situation is the company.
Obviously bicycle couriering in any city is a dangerous job. There is a high risk of being injured while at work, but because self-employed subcontractors are not entitled to sick pay, couriers do not get any money if they are forced to take time off due to an injury sustained at work. This is there the Emergency Fund comes in. The LCEF provides support and financial help to bicycle couriers who have been injured at work, thereby providing a vital lifeline to people who could quickly end up without money for food or rent.
Injured London cycle courier
Apart from that… it’s an excuse to shout and laugh at people, do stupid things, dress up in a costume and dance to music, all while drinking beer from morning ’til night:
Fun in London
a man dressed as a woman, being waxed in the street by a woman dressed as a cat...wtf?!
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More:
The Couriers Are Revolting – An “excellent and inspiring pamphlet about London’s Despatch Industry Workers Union (DIWU). A radical, self-organised and direct action-oriented group.”
Mess Media info on labour issues in the messenger industry
Moving Target – London’s most useless messenger ‘zine
Moving Target’s memorial to cycle couriers killed while working
Selim’s photos of the female-only alleycat race last month
Wicked post, geezer mate!
Of course you could argue that if it’s such a bad job then they could just quit. But why should they? Everyone has a right to be treated fairly (and lawfully) at work. Yet somehow courier companies get away with not doing so.
Nice post, only one correction – Nhatt (the girl with pink hair) broke her elbow BEFORE she became a messenger.
It’s Buffalo blackbeard bicycle badboy Bill!
Anyway, Bill – thanks for pointing that out.
However, I don’t think I’ll change it, ’cause it illustrates the ‘article’ (if you can call it that) fairly well.
By the way, I posted that and then I didn’t even go to London. Damn my weak body!
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