Uber Eats has announced its intention to appeal against a Milan court’s recent ruling that deemed the company’s decision to lay off 4,000 food-delivery riders in Italy as illegal. The court found Uber Eats Italy guilty of anti-union conduct for not adequately consulting with worker representatives before implementing the layoffs.

As per the court’s ruling, the dismissals must be revoked, and discussions must be initiated with labor unions. The CGIL trade union praised the decision, highlighting that it marked the first instance of applying a regulation concerning the relocation of multinationals, which holds them responsible for restructuring processes.

In response to the court’s decision, Uber Eats expressed its disagreement and stated its intent to appeal. A spokesperson for the company said, “We met with some unions with the aim of guaranteeing support for the rider partners who used our app to make deliveries in Italy, and we will continue to work with them to find a fair agreement for everyone.”

This legal battle underscores the ongoing challenges that gig economy companies face in navigating labor regulations and worker rights, particularly in Europe, where courts and authorities have been increasingly scrutinizing their employment practices.