„Gläserne“ Paketbot*innen – Arbeitsbedingungen und Mitbestimmung in Kurier-, Express- und Paketdiensten

One of the main trends associated with the permanent availability of internet access is the rapid growth of online shopping and home delivery of consumer goods, which as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has spread to almost all consumer goods sectors and to groups of the population previously remote from the internet. Such a constant stream of consumption requires the availability and performance of a specific type of worker: the employee in courier, express and parcel services who – quite literally – has to shoulder the burden of increased order volumes. In this article, the authors present first findings relating to sociology and trade union policy from the qualitative study on digital logistics, work structures and worker participation (Digitale Logistik, Arbeitsstrukturen und Mitbestimmung – DiLAMi), funded by the German Hans Böckler Foundation and conducted by the ISF München and the University of Bamberg. Specifically, extended possibilities of control and growing gaps in the representation of interests of courier workers are arising in the context of digital technology use. In addition, the use of digital technology can simplify work to such an extent that companies can increasingly rely on low-skilled labour in times of labour shortages. The authors conclude that the trends observed in this sector provide further evidence for the growing rise of what can be called ‘digital Taylorism’.