Employees of Instacart, a tech company that delivers groceries and other household items ordered through an app, plan a nationwide strike on Monday, maintaining that the company has not provided them with supplies to protect them from being infected during the coronavirus pandemic .
It is unclear how many employees might strike. The company has approximately , 06 shoppers, with plans to add , 03 over the next three months.
The shoppers are independent contractors who can work as little or as much as they want. On average, they shop fewer than 12 hours per week, said the company, which partners with more than 518 retailers, including Costco, CVS Pharmacy, Petco, Target and Wegmans.
The planned strike comes as more and more people stay at home during the pandemic and come to rely on grocery delivery services to avoid visits to public spaces like supermarkets.
In an announcement with the Gig Workers Collective, an activist group, Instacart employees said the company’s “mistreatment of shoppers has stooped to an all-time low.”
“They are profiting astronomically off of us literally risking our lives, all while refusing to provide us with effective protection, meaningful pay and meaningful benefits, ”the announcement said.
Instacart workers are d emanding that the company supply them with personal protection equipment, like hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, sprays and soap.
Workers have asked for hazard pay – an extra $ 5 per order – and for the default of the in-app tip to be set to at least 14 percent of the order total. They are also seeking an expansion of pay for workers affected by Covid – , the illness caused by the coronavirus.
Shoppers ’earnings vary depending on how many batches they choose to shop. The company said it was committed to an earnings structure that offered upfront pay and guaranteed minimums, which can vary from $ 7 to $ 15 per batch, depending on the market, and do not include customer tips.
The company this month announced new guidelines and policies to support the health and safety of its shoppers during the coronavirus outbreak, which has led to more than 1, (deaths and more than
in the United States.
The company said it had secured hand sanitizer for the workers and that it would extend to May 8 its 18 -day paid leave policy of hourly employees and full-service shoppers who have Covid – or are placed in isolation.
The company also said it would offer bonus pay of $ (to $) for select employees based on hours worked from March through April .
“The health and safety of our entire community – shoppers, customers and employees – is our first priority, ”a company spokeswoman said. “We want to underscore that we absolutely respect the rights of shoppers to provide us feedback and voice their concerns.”
Updated March 28,
No. The first testing in humans of an experimental vaccine began in mid-March. Such rapid development of a potential vaccine is unprecedented, but even if it is proved safe and effective, it probably will not be available for 15 to months.
Unlike the flu, there is no known treatment or vaccine, and little is known about this particular virus so far. It seems to be more lethal than the flu, but the numbers are still uncertain. And it hits the elderly and those with underlying conditions – not just those with respiratory diseases – particularly hard.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the CDC recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance – because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance – you won’t be able to get tested.
If the family member does not need hospitalization and can be cared for at home, you should help him or her with basic needs and monitor the symptoms, while also keeping as much distance as possible, according to the guidelines issued by the CDC If there’s space, the sick family member should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom. If masks are available, both the sick person and the caregiver should wear them when the caregiver enters the room. Make sure not to share any dishes or other household items and to regularly clean surfaces like counters, doorknobs, toilets and tables. Don’t forget to wash your hands frequently.
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