Mar 27, 2020
Contract workers for Instacart, the Silicon Valley startup that employs 175,000 people to deliver groceries nationwide via its online platform, plan to walk off the job Monday if the company does not immediately provide them with hazard pay and increased safety precautions to protect them from the deadly coronavirus now ravaging the nation.
"Instacart has been busy crafting a rather heroic public image as the saviors of families sheltered-in-place, and as the economic saviors of laid off workers. In truth, Instacart is providing no protection to its existing [gig workers]."
--Vanessa Bain, Instacart delivery worker
As Vice first reported Friday, Instacart's delivery workers are demanding hazard pay of $5 per order, free hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and paid sick leave for workers with pre-existing medical conditions that would make the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, more dangerous if they contract it.
Considering delivery and grocery workers are just some of the millions of Americans considered "essential" during the public health crisis, "it's especially cruel to withhold these guarantees from the very workers keeping millions of people fed," tweeted Joelle Stangler, a field director for Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) presidential campaign.
\u201cWorkers should always have hazard pay, safe working conditions, and paid leave. It's especially cruel to withhold these guarantees from the very workers keeping millions of people fed. Solidarity with Instacart drivers organizing for what they deserve. https://t.co/fox7SR1Wa8\u201d— joelle (@joelle) 1585325753
Like millions of sanitation workers, pharmacy and grocery store employees, and healthcare workers across the country, said Instacart worker and strike organizer Vanessa Bain, the company's shoppers "are working on the frontlines in the capacity of first responders"--all while many other Americans are able to work from home.
"Instacart's corporate employees are provided with health insurance, life insurance, and paid time off and [are] also eligible for sick pay and paid family leave," Bain told Vice. adding that the company's gig workers "are afforded none of these protections."
"We deserve and demand better," Bain added. "Without [us], Instacart will grind to a halt."
Instacart's current sick leave policy for its delivery workers allows them to take two weeks of paid leave only if they test positive for the coronavirus. With tests in short supply and many Americans being told by healthcare providers that they don't qualify for testing, Instacart could be forcing many of its shoppers to work while ill--or at least contagious.
Providing the workers with safety supplies and a fair paid sick leave policy "could actually save lives," tweeted comedian Jon Hendren.
\u201cinstacart shoppers are concerned that they could be helping spread the virus, because the company provides no meaningful protection and is even ramping up hiring newly laid-off people willing to make pennies per hour. striking right now is very brave but could actually save lives\u201d— thinking of becoming a necklace guy (@thinking of becoming a necklace guy) 1585329072
Others on social media pledged solidarity with Instacart's delivery workers and called on the company to meet the workers' demands for safety measures.
\u201cI've used Instacart, and am absolutely standing with every employee in demanding effective safety measures, fair compensation, and sick leave\u201d— Rep. Ro Khanna (@Rep. Ro Khanna) 1585335775
\u201cGrocery delivery workers are literally some of the most important people in the world right now. They deserve respect, protective gear, decent pay and benefits, and all the support we can give them. https://t.co/Oy4w3CP1Xp\u201d— Evan Greer is on Mastodon (@Evan Greer is on Mastodon) 1585324921
Bain slammed the company for "profiting significantly off of this pandemic" and planning to hire 300,000 new shoppers to keep up with demand and capitalize on the unemployment crisis resulting from the pandemic, while failing to ensure the safety of its current workers.
"Instacart has been busy crafting a rather heroic public image as the saviors of families sheltered-in-place, and as the economic saviors of laid off workers," Bain told Vice. "In truth, Instacart is providing no protection to its existing [gig workers]."
The workers' plan to strike--one which could bring Instacart's business to a halt on Monday, said Medium writer Sarah Emerson, proves that "low-wage workers make the country run."
"Not CEOs in Silicon Valley who style themselves as benevolent dictators," she tweeted. "Companies like Uber, Lyft, and Instacart would be nothing without the laborers they treat so poorly--people now deemed 'essential'."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Contract workers for Instacart, the Silicon Valley startup that employs 175,000 people to deliver groceries nationwide via its online platform, plan to walk off the job Monday if the company does not immediately provide them with hazard pay and increased safety precautions to protect them from the deadly coronavirus now ravaging the nation.
"Instacart has been busy crafting a rather heroic public image as the saviors of families sheltered-in-place, and as the economic saviors of laid off workers. In truth, Instacart is providing no protection to its existing [gig workers]."
--Vanessa Bain, Instacart delivery worker
As Vice first reported Friday, Instacart's delivery workers are demanding hazard pay of $5 per order, free hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and paid sick leave for workers with pre-existing medical conditions that would make the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, more dangerous if they contract it.
Considering delivery and grocery workers are just some of the millions of Americans considered "essential" during the public health crisis, "it's especially cruel to withhold these guarantees from the very workers keeping millions of people fed," tweeted Joelle Stangler, a field director for Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) presidential campaign.
\u201cWorkers should always have hazard pay, safe working conditions, and paid leave. It's especially cruel to withhold these guarantees from the very workers keeping millions of people fed. Solidarity with Instacart drivers organizing for what they deserve. https://t.co/fox7SR1Wa8\u201d— joelle (@joelle) 1585325753
Like millions of sanitation workers, pharmacy and grocery store employees, and healthcare workers across the country, said Instacart worker and strike organizer Vanessa Bain, the company's shoppers "are working on the frontlines in the capacity of first responders"--all while many other Americans are able to work from home.
"Instacart's corporate employees are provided with health insurance, life insurance, and paid time off and [are] also eligible for sick pay and paid family leave," Bain told Vice. adding that the company's gig workers "are afforded none of these protections."
"We deserve and demand better," Bain added. "Without [us], Instacart will grind to a halt."
Instacart's current sick leave policy for its delivery workers allows them to take two weeks of paid leave only if they test positive for the coronavirus. With tests in short supply and many Americans being told by healthcare providers that they don't qualify for testing, Instacart could be forcing many of its shoppers to work while ill--or at least contagious.
Providing the workers with safety supplies and a fair paid sick leave policy "could actually save lives," tweeted comedian Jon Hendren.
\u201cinstacart shoppers are concerned that they could be helping spread the virus, because the company provides no meaningful protection and is even ramping up hiring newly laid-off people willing to make pennies per hour. striking right now is very brave but could actually save lives\u201d— thinking of becoming a necklace guy (@thinking of becoming a necklace guy) 1585329072
Others on social media pledged solidarity with Instacart's delivery workers and called on the company to meet the workers' demands for safety measures.
\u201cI've used Instacart, and am absolutely standing with every employee in demanding effective safety measures, fair compensation, and sick leave\u201d— Rep. Ro Khanna (@Rep. Ro Khanna) 1585335775
\u201cGrocery delivery workers are literally some of the most important people in the world right now. They deserve respect, protective gear, decent pay and benefits, and all the support we can give them. https://t.co/Oy4w3CP1Xp\u201d— Evan Greer is on Mastodon (@Evan Greer is on Mastodon) 1585324921
Bain slammed the company for "profiting significantly off of this pandemic" and planning to hire 300,000 new shoppers to keep up with demand and capitalize on the unemployment crisis resulting from the pandemic, while failing to ensure the safety of its current workers.
"Instacart has been busy crafting a rather heroic public image as the saviors of families sheltered-in-place, and as the economic saviors of laid off workers," Bain told Vice. "In truth, Instacart is providing no protection to its existing [gig workers]."
The workers' plan to strike--one which could bring Instacart's business to a halt on Monday, said Medium writer Sarah Emerson, proves that "low-wage workers make the country run."
"Not CEOs in Silicon Valley who style themselves as benevolent dictators," she tweeted. "Companies like Uber, Lyft, and Instacart would be nothing without the laborers they treat so poorly--people now deemed 'essential'."
Contract workers for Instacart, the Silicon Valley startup that employs 175,000 people to deliver groceries nationwide via its online platform, plan to walk off the job Monday if the company does not immediately provide them with hazard pay and increased safety precautions to protect them from the deadly coronavirus now ravaging the nation.
"Instacart has been busy crafting a rather heroic public image as the saviors of families sheltered-in-place, and as the economic saviors of laid off workers. In truth, Instacart is providing no protection to its existing [gig workers]."
--Vanessa Bain, Instacart delivery worker
As Vice first reported Friday, Instacart's delivery workers are demanding hazard pay of $5 per order, free hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and paid sick leave for workers with pre-existing medical conditions that would make the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, more dangerous if they contract it.
Considering delivery and grocery workers are just some of the millions of Americans considered "essential" during the public health crisis, "it's especially cruel to withhold these guarantees from the very workers keeping millions of people fed," tweeted Joelle Stangler, a field director for Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) presidential campaign.
\u201cWorkers should always have hazard pay, safe working conditions, and paid leave. It's especially cruel to withhold these guarantees from the very workers keeping millions of people fed. Solidarity with Instacart drivers organizing for what they deserve. https://t.co/fox7SR1Wa8\u201d— joelle (@joelle) 1585325753
Like millions of sanitation workers, pharmacy and grocery store employees, and healthcare workers across the country, said Instacart worker and strike organizer Vanessa Bain, the company's shoppers "are working on the frontlines in the capacity of first responders"--all while many other Americans are able to work from home.
"Instacart's corporate employees are provided with health insurance, life insurance, and paid time off and [are] also eligible for sick pay and paid family leave," Bain told Vice. adding that the company's gig workers "are afforded none of these protections."
"We deserve and demand better," Bain added. "Without [us], Instacart will grind to a halt."
Instacart's current sick leave policy for its delivery workers allows them to take two weeks of paid leave only if they test positive for the coronavirus. With tests in short supply and many Americans being told by healthcare providers that they don't qualify for testing, Instacart could be forcing many of its shoppers to work while ill--or at least contagious.
Providing the workers with safety supplies and a fair paid sick leave policy "could actually save lives," tweeted comedian Jon Hendren.
\u201cinstacart shoppers are concerned that they could be helping spread the virus, because the company provides no meaningful protection and is even ramping up hiring newly laid-off people willing to make pennies per hour. striking right now is very brave but could actually save lives\u201d— thinking of becoming a necklace guy (@thinking of becoming a necklace guy) 1585329072
Others on social media pledged solidarity with Instacart's delivery workers and called on the company to meet the workers' demands for safety measures.
\u201cI've used Instacart, and am absolutely standing with every employee in demanding effective safety measures, fair compensation, and sick leave\u201d— Rep. Ro Khanna (@Rep. Ro Khanna) 1585335775
\u201cGrocery delivery workers are literally some of the most important people in the world right now. They deserve respect, protective gear, decent pay and benefits, and all the support we can give them. https://t.co/Oy4w3CP1Xp\u201d— Evan Greer is on Mastodon (@Evan Greer is on Mastodon) 1585324921
Bain slammed the company for "profiting significantly off of this pandemic" and planning to hire 300,000 new shoppers to keep up with demand and capitalize on the unemployment crisis resulting from the pandemic, while failing to ensure the safety of its current workers.
"Instacart has been busy crafting a rather heroic public image as the saviors of families sheltered-in-place, and as the economic saviors of laid off workers," Bain told Vice. "In truth, Instacart is providing no protection to its existing [gig workers]."
The workers' plan to strike--one which could bring Instacart's business to a halt on Monday, said Medium writer Sarah Emerson, proves that "low-wage workers make the country run."
"Not CEOs in Silicon Valley who style themselves as benevolent dictators," she tweeted. "Companies like Uber, Lyft, and Instacart would be nothing without the laborers they treat so poorly--people now deemed 'essential'."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.