With more coronavirus cases rising, a number of workers in grocery stores, delivery services, and warehouse operations have participated in a strike to demand better working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Instacart, Amazon, and Whole Foods are gradually becoming essential resources by consumers due to the current situation. On March 30, Instacart workers conducted a national strike to demand hazard pay and better health protections.
Warehouse employees at an Amazon facility in Staten Island, New York walked out because they claim Amazon is not doing enough to protect its workers. Workers from Whole Foods Markets across the nation coordinated a plan to call-out from work this past March 31.
Workers are in fear of contracting the coronavirus and are arguing with managers regarding supervisors taking the appropriate safety measures to protect themselves but not all employees. Whole Foods claims that the strikes did not negatively impact their operations.
Instacart workers hold the company responsible for not providing hand sanitizer, masks, and disinfecting sprays during this outbreak. Instacart, however, announced that workers are now able to order hand sanitizer and the items will be shipped directly to them.
It is still unclear how many people protested against Instacart. They also claim to have not experienced any impact from the strike. The company refused to respond to reporters from The Post on whether any workers had been diagnosed with coronavirus.
According to The Washington Post, Whole Foods spokesperson Rachel Malish said, “So far today we have seen no changes to overall absenteeism and we continue to operate all of our stores without interruption. There is no higher priority for us than taking care of our Team Members.”
A petition started by strike organizers circled around Whole Foods call, and it has received more than 10,000 signatures. The petition asks for paid leave for all workers who chose to isolate themselves during the coronavirus pandemic. Signers are also demanding health care coverage for part-time employees and funding to help cover the cost of coronavirus testing.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted her support by saying, “First Instacart, then Amazon, now Whole Foods: workers are withholding their labor & demanding dignity. When people work an hourly job, it’s suggested in many ways that you’re unimportant or expendable. Except you aren’t. Everyone deserves safe work, paid leave, & a living wage.”
Amazon bought Whole Foods in June of 2017 for $13.7 billion. In January of this year, Whole Foods stopped providing health care benefits for part-time employees who work less than 30 hours a week. To compensate for this, the company decided to give out temporary $2 raises through the month of April as well as double pay for overtime. Employees are also now eligible for two weeks of sick leave for those in quarantine or if they are diagnosed with COVID-19.
The strikers’ organization also called for a shut down of any Whole Foods stores where employees test positive for COVID-19. Amazon says it’s performing enhanced cleaning of its facilities and has made the choice to keep warehouses open where employees test positive.
Chris Smalls, who was a process assistant for Amazon, was fired for violating the terms of the company’s ordered quarantine after being sent home for coming into contact with a coworker who has COVID-19. According to Smith, around 50 workers walked out on Monday.
Some workers in the Amazon facility demanded that the building be sanitized after multiple workers tested positive for the virus. Smalls says other employees who were in direct contact with the same workers were not sent home.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city’s human rights commission will be investigating to determine whether or not Amazon has violated any human rights.
Several employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in stores across the U.S. and Canada. Whole Foods has 500 stores in North America.
As of now, Amazon is trying to hire more than 100,00 workers to help manage coronavirus related orders. Lisa Levandowski, a spokesperson for Amazon, said that the company will be increasing cleaning in all facilities, encouraging social/safe distancing, and will be doing temperature checks as employees arrive for work.
