Union for 1.3 Million Food and Retail Workers Applauds Labor Secretary Walsh Support for Reclassifying Gig Workers as Employees, Key Step to Stop Exploitation of Essential Workers by Instacart, Doordash, Uber, Lyft
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.3 million essential workers in grocery, retail, and other frontline industries, applauded U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and the Biden Administration for announcing their support for reclassifying the millions of gig workers as employees at companies like Instacart, DoorDash, Uber, and Lyft who have been on the frontlines of the pandemic helping families access the food and transportation they need.
In February 2020, Instacart workers in Chicago unionized with UFCW, the first at the company to do so. And earlier this year, UFCW helped food delivery workers unionize at Safeway grocery stores and Imperfect Foods in California, historic firsts at both companies.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:
“America’s gig economy workers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic since day one, putting their own health at risk to ensure our families had the groceries, food, and transportation we need during this crisis.
“This announcement by Secretary Walsh sends a powerful message to gig economy companies that the days of tech billionaires exploiting brave essential workers will soon be over. For too long, companies like Instacart, DoorDash, Uber, and Lyft have been given a free pass to deny workers the good pay, affordable healthcare, and other essential benefits they have earned.
“As the union for essential food and retail workers across the country, UFCW applauds the Biden Administration for taking this stand and looks forward to working with Secretary Walsh to finally guarantee the rights and protections that America’s gig economy workers deserve.”
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UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries. Our members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.