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On strike: Delivery service workers demand more protections during pandemic

'We are actually out here putting ourselves in very high risk situations.'

As many people stay home, delivery services like Instacart and Amazon are in demand more than ever. However, Monday, employees walked off the job, demanding better protections during the coronavirus outbreak.  

Instacart employees consider themselves essential. While many of us shelter in place and avoid crowds, they are braving grocery store aisles. 

“We are actually out here putting ourselves in a very high-risk situation and possibly bringing whatever happens to us outside of the home, home," said Brandon Calvin. 

He has worked as an Instacart independent contractor for three years. He refused to work on Monday.

"A lot of us sat at home, and I guess what you can say boycotted or just ignored orders," said Calvin.

He and other Instacart shoppers want hazard pay and protective gear like disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and masks. 

"The recommendation is that employers protect their employees as best they can if they’re required to go to work or if going to work. So that would include masks as well as a disinfecting protocol," said Chandra C. Davis. Davis is a partner at Employment Law Solution. 

In a statement posted to their blog, Instacart said they’re “immensely grateful” to their employees. The company says it will offer bonuses, paid sick leave for those diagnosed with COVID-19 and is working on hand sanitizer, specifically for shoppers. 

On Staten Island, New York, 100 amazon workers staged a protest outside their warehouse, Monday. 

"We are low on masks, we don't have proper gloves, we want our building to be sanitized. I'm afraid to go to work," said Chris Smalls, strike lead organizer. 

At least 13 Amazon warehouses have reported COVID-19 cases.

Whole Foods – owned by Amazon – is also expected to see employees walkout Tuesday. They have called for a sick out, posting their demands on Twitter. 

"Employers and employees are going to have to work together to navigate this system," Davis said. "I think we have to be patient with one another."

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