Takeaway delivery drivers are preparing to strike on Valentine's Day to demand better pay and improved working conditions.

The strike, affecting four food delivery apps including Deliveroo and Uber Eats, is expected to involve up to 3,000 drivers and riders on Wednesday between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM GMT.

One cyclist participating in the strike told the BBC that their pay was "absolutely ridiculous."

Deliveroo stated that its riders "always earn at least the national living wage."

The strike, organized by a grassroots group of couriers, many of whom are Brazilian, aims to highlight the poor pay and working conditions faced by many riders while delivering food and groceries in cities across the UK.

"Sacrificing a few hours for our rights is essential, instead of continuing to work incessantly for insufficient wages," said the group Delivery Job UK on its Instagram page. "Our request is simple: we want fair compensation for the work we do. We are tired of being exploited and risking our lives every day... It's time for our voices to be heard."

In addition to Deliveroo and Uber Eats, Just Eat and Stuart.com will also be affected, with couriers who typically work across multiple apps planning to refuse orders.

Delivery Job UK claimed that delivery riders endure harsh conditions, including "cold, rain, and absurd distances" for deliveries that pay "ridiculous values," ranging from £2.80 to £3.15.

A spokesperson for the group told the BBC that striking Deliveroo riders are demanding an increase to a minimum of £5, while the other companies use different pricing structures.

"They [Deliveroo] have lowered their fees. There's no incentive anymore. On a Friday night, you could make £100 over 4-5 hours, now that's gone," the spokesperson said.

Joe, a courier in London since 2018 who plans to strike on Wednesday, described the work as "incredibly isolating" and said that migrant workers are often forced into it without being able to challenge the conditions.

Callum Cant, a lecturer at Essex University who has written about the gig economy, stated that changes to fees have led to a 40% drop in wages for couriers since 2018.

While delivery drivers are not formally unionized, the GMB has an agreement with Deliveroo, which includes access to education courses and a negotiated pay floor for fees each April.

In response, Deliveroo stated that it offers its riders self-employed, flexible work alongside protections and insurance coverage.

Just Eat and Stuart.com also commented, emphasizing their commitment to providing competitive earnings opportunities for courier partners.

The BBC has reached out to Uber Eats for comment. Photo by Môsieur J. [version 9.1] from Rouen, FRANCE, Wikimedia commons.