Want to actually be your own boss?
Ride together. Own together. Decide together.
Bybudene – A rider-owned delivery cooperative
Wolt and Foodora say you're «your own boss»...
But does it really feel like it?
❌ They decide the pay
❌ They decide the rules
❌ They control the algorithms
❌ You provide your own bike, insurance, and equipment
❌ No sick pay, pension, or vacation pay
The reality of delivery work in Norway
Delivery riding has become one of the most precarious lines of work in Norway. Riders are called "independent contractors" instead of employees. This means:
- No minimum wage protection
- No sick leave or sick pay
- No vacation pay
- No pension contributions
- You provide your own bike and equipment
- You pay for your own insurance
- No collective bargaining rights
The problems go deeper. A report from ØKOKRIM documented connections between delivery platforms and serious crime, including systematic exploitation of vulnerable workers.
This is not merely about poor working conditions – the entire business model is designed to evade responsibility to workers.
Things are changing
Riders are fighting back. In February 2025, three riders took Wolt to court, demanding recognition as employees with full labor rights and claiming over 1 million kroner in unpaid wages, holiday pay, and pension contributions.
In 2019, Foodora became the only delivery platform in Norway with a collective agreement with Fellesforbundet. Their riders can access proper employment contracts with fixed wages, sick pay, and pension contributions.
These are important victories. But we believe we can go further — not just negotiating for better conditions within existing platforms, but building an alternative structure entirely.
What if riders could own the platform themselves?
What's a worker cooperative?
Here is the basic idea: Instead of bosses and shareholders who own the company and make all decisions, the workers own and control the business together.
🏢 Worker-owned
You become a member-owner of the company you work for
🗳️ Democratic control
You and your coworkers vote on important decisions
💰 Shared profits
Money goes to the people doing the work, not outside investors
Think of it this way: Instead of working for a company, you work as the company. You have a real say in how things work. You benefit directly from the success you help create.
Worker cooperatives are not new. There are thousands around the world. They range from small local businesses to large companies. In delivery work, cities like Paris, Berlin, and Copenhagen already have successful rider-owned cooperatives.
So how would this work practically in Oslo?
Technical foundation: CoopCycle
We plan to use CoopCycle. This is an open-source platform designed for delivery cooperatives. Over 50 co-ops across Europe already use it. It provides:
- A complete ordering and delivery system
- Mobile apps for riders and customers
- Transparent finances and admin tools
- Easy integration with local restaurants and shops
Using proven technology means we can focus on building the cooperative. We don't need to build the technical platform from scratch.
With this technical foundation in place, what could we build together?
Our vision: A rider-owned cooperative
Our vision centers on rider ownership and control of the platform itself. This is a starting framework, not a fixed blueprint—the structure will evolve organically as members collectively shape the cooperative.
💰 Fair pay
Stable wages that we decide together. Not dependent on tips or hidden algorithms.
📋 Transparency
Open finances and transparent governance, with decisions made democratically by the membership.
🗳️ One rider = one vote
Real democracy. Every member has an equal say in how things work.
🚫 No profit extraction
Surplus value returns to the cooperative and its members rather than flowing to external investors.
🚲 Equipment provided
The cooperative could provide bikes, equipment, and safety gear, reducing barriers to entry.
🏥 Real employment
Real employment contracts with sick pay, pension, and vacation pay. The basics that make work sustainable.
Important: These are ideas to explore together. This is not a fixed plan. The founding members will create the initial foundation. Then all members will continue to shape how the cooperative works. This is about building something democratic that evolves with its members.
Interested? Let's talk.
This initiative is started by Konrad Jervell. We're looking for people who want to build something that actually puts workers first. This includes experienced riders who want better working conditions, as well as people with expertise in law, accounting, logistics, cooperative governance, or other skills needed to establish a functioning cooperative.
We're exploring partnerships with relevant organizations like labor unions and learning from cooperatives across Europe. The goal is to build real collective power for delivery workers in Oslo.