A semi-autonomous organising model: How can self-organised workers’ collaboration with the conventional labour movement contribute to union building in the gig economy? A case study of the Wolt Workers’ Group in Denmark

This article examines how workers and conventional trade unions can improve conditions in a gig economy setting by exploring couriers’ unionisation efforts at Wolt, a food delivery platform in Denmark. Typically, established trade unions have struggled to organise the gig economy. Yet, the example of a large and established Danish union, 3F’s, relationship with self-organised Wolt couriers provides an important counterexample to this trend and has implications for workers and unions alike. This rare organising relationship is analysed through an autoethnographic study that draws upon the researcher’s experience as a Wolt worker and organiser, exploring the class composition of couriers. This research proposes that the relationship between 3F and workers can be understood as semi-autonomous, bringing together an established union with self-organised workers as an initial and mutually beneficial step towards organising the sector.