Amazon, Instacart Workers Launch May Day Strike To Protest Treatment During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Source: Washington Post

Workers are protesting what they say are inadequate measures from the companies to protect them during the spread of covid-19. U.S. workers at a handful of major companies walked off the job Friday, protesting treatment during the outbreak of coronavirus.

Warehouse workers and grocery employees at Amazon and its subsidiary Whole Foods and gig workers for Instacart and Target-owned Shipt banded together for the protest on May Day, or International Workers Day. The workers — whose jobs have become more critical during coronavirus quarantines and stay-at-home orders — called for more personal protective equipment, professional cleaning services and hazard pay from their employers.

A small crowd gathered in front of an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island on Friday, made up of Amazon workers as well as nurses and other health care professionals offering support. Protests were also planned in the California Bay Area, Los Angeles, Ohio and Kentucky.

Amazon, Target, Shipt and Whole Foods said their operations were not interrupted. It was not immediately clear how many people participated, although the companies said it was a small number.Those groups of workers have each previously waged individual protests since March, with what companies described as little impact on operations...


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/01/amazon-instacart-workers-strike/