GoPuff Drivers Take Action:
We’re worth more than a $3 bag of snacks.

NOVEMBER 2021 UPDATE:

Drivers are organizing a collective action across warehouses to raise up their demands. If you’re a GoPuff driver, click here to learn more & make your commitment to join the drivers’ strike.

If you haven’t heard of GoPuff already, you will soon. While it hasn’t yet drawn the same attention as apps like Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber, the delivery app has rapidly expanded their footprint during the pandemic, doubling their service locations since November 2020. Thousands of workers have signed up as GoPuff “Driver Partners.” The company recently purchased liquor chain BevMo for $350 million. And after a $1.15 billion funding round in March 2021, the company is valued at $8.9 billion.

So how has GoPuff managed to raise billions of dollars in just a few years on the simple promise of getting chips and beer to your doorstep on demand?

Like typical delivery apps, GoPuff’s model depends on shifting their costs onto us — the workers, who are paid just $3 per delivery. But their model is a little different from apps like DoorDash and Instacart.

Rather than sending us to a store to pick up orders, GoPuff owns over 450 warehouses in almost every state. Their “micro-fulfillment” model allows them to advertise deliveries as fast as 20 minutes, and promise they’ll always charge a flat delivery fee of $1.95... but it only works if workers are already standing by at the warehouse to take the orders.

Keeping a warehouse staffed is tricky for an app that uses independent contractors as drivers. GoPuff’s solution is to simply treat us like we aren’t independent contractors at all. As GoPuff drivers, we work on set shifts, have no ability to reject orders, and even report to managers who control every almost aspect of our work, from what jobs we get to whether we’re fired.

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That means we get the worst of both worlds. Many of us depend on the flexibility of gig work to accommodate caretaking needs, disabilities, and other jobs. But on GoPuff, we can be terminated for missing a single shift, with no protection or sick time. Others turn to gig work because we’ve faced discrimination in traditional jobs, and want the freedom of working without a boss. But many workers of color have faced blatant discrimination, and workers who speak out about our working conditions have been fired in retaliation, with no recourse. 

We value the flexibility of gig work — but GoPuff is failing to deliver on that promise.

On top of that, GoPuff is building its billions by setting subminimum pay rates. We’re paid $3 per delivery, but we don’t control the offers we’re sent, so the only guarantee we get is the hourly subsidy GoPuff sets for each warehouse. That hourly rate can be as low as $8 per hour. We have to cover our own costs for gas and car maintenance — which means $8 can turn into about $2.50 an hour in take-home pay. In some warehouses, the minimum guarantee is lower than local minimum wage even before factoring in mileage expenses.

And sometimes, that “guarantee” isn’t a guarantee at all. Pay is frequently miscalculated, and when we pick up extra shifts that weren’t scheduled in advance, GoPuff doesn’t even pay the hourly subsidy.

While GoPuff continues to pop up new warehouses every week and rake in billions in funding from investors, workers are the ones paying the price. We can’t afford to let this model expand to the rest of the gig economy. GoPuff’s only “innovation” is their willingness to go beyond apps like Uber and shamelessly ignore laws about how much control they can exercise over independent contractors.

They’ve managed to mostly fly under the radar — until now. But as workers, we’re taking action to change that.

GoPuff workers from warehouses across the US have come together to call for change. We’re demanding the basics all gig workers deserve: an hourly guarantee that pays a living wage after mileage and other expenses, tips in full on top of our pay, the control & flexibility gig workers are owed, an end to discrimination by managers and unwarranted deactivations, and no more forced arbitration clauses in contracts to stop us from holding GoPuff accountable. Whether you’re a GoPuff worker, customer, or just a supporter, please join us in signing the open letter below and tell GoPuff it’s time to pay up.

Initiated by GoPuff drivers from Seattle, WA; Fort Wayne 181, IN; Columbus 22, OH; Jacksonville University Area, FL; Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA; Roseland, Atlanta, GA; Athens, OH; University City, Philadelphia, PA; Queen Village, Philadelphia, PA; Westminster, Denver, CO; Mesa West, AZ; Eastgate, Leon Valley, San Antonio, TX; Winston Salem, NC; Upper Arlington, Columbus, OH; Ann Arbor, MI; Kalamazoo, MI; Dietz, Tucson, AZ; Wilkes-Barre, PA; Pleasanton, CA; Lowell, MA; Lincoln, NE; Northeast Philadelphia, PA; Carrington, Albuquerque, NM; Glendale, Phoenix, AZ; Blacksburg, VA; Ranchland 162, El Paso, TX; Salem, OR; Torrance, CA; Lindbergh, Atlanta, GA; East Austin, TX; East San Antonio, TX; Downtown Charlotte, NC; Scott’s Addition, Richmond, VA; Westover, Raleigh, NC; Asheville, NC; Peoria, AZ; Gresham, OR; Richardson, TX; Danville, CA; Walnut Creek, CA; Indianapolis, IN; Rochester, NY; Dayton, OH; Cincinnati, OH; Houston 271, TX; Newton, NE; Rino, Denver, CO; Greensboro, NC; Omaha, NE; Deer Valley, Phoenix, AZ; Arroyo Chico, Tucson, AZ; Downtown-Midway, Minneapolis, MN; North Miami, FL; Hillside, Indianapolis, IN; Aurora 96, CO; Kent, OH; Lubbock, TX; Essex, MD; Tallahassee, FL; West Louisville, KY; Tuscaloosa, AL; Downtown Nashville, TN; University Heights, Tempe, AZ; Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA; Downtown Pittsburgh, PA; Downtown San Antonio, TX; Storrs, CT; Hyde Park, Austin, TX; West Town, Chicago, IL; Central Phoenix, AZ; Downtown Tampa, FL; East Nashville, TN; La Quinta, CA; West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA; St. Paul, MN; Remington, Baltimore, MD; Syracuse, NY; Lafayette, IN; Burnsville, MN; Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD; Fresno, CA; San Diego, CA; Deep Ellum, Dallas, TX; Frisco, TX; Somerton, PA; Los Angeles, CA; Lansing, MI; Farmers Branch, TX; Garland, TX; Cleveland, OH; Norman, OK; Port Richmond, Philadelphia, PA; Eugene, OR; Chandler, AZ

Including: Aaron Valentine, Abdi H., Adam S., Alicia Veach, Angela A., Angela R., Annie Honore, Ashley N., Barbara Sinclair, Bobby DeLage, Bradleigh Aeh, Brandi F., Brie C., C. A., Candra Smith, Carla Rush, Chauna Davis, Curtis S., Daniel M., Danielle Dean, David Milone, David R., David Sumegi, David Washington, Dawson K., Deandre R., Derek Petaccio, Douglas Cerv, Drayson Roberts, Ebonie Brown, Erika C., Erika Chavis, Garrett Bradford, Griffin R., Harry Ector, Hector Gutierrez, Hieu D., Jacob Gomez, Jacqulyn Thomas, Jami B., Jane B., Jen Malewitz, Jennifer T., Jerald Adolph-Lucas, Jessica Foreman, Jessica H., John Rodgers, Jordan P., Joseph Isaksen, Joseph Smith, Joseph Wood, Juana Bustos-El Masri, Justin Zimmerman, Karen P., Karen Y., Keanna Nelson, Kendra Jackson, Kevin Schirmer, Konstantin Sarras, Kylee A., Leland P., Lindsey L., Lisa Demand, Lisa Harris, Mark May, Matthew Olmstead, Meagan Borrego, Melanie W., Melissa Murray, Michael G., Michael H., Michelle Engebretson, Michelle G., Nate H., Nathaniel W., Patrick L., Pete Burns, Preston Eggleston, Ray I., Ray L., Rebecca S., Reeyo Mason, Renee Esquivel, Reuben T., Richard M., Rodney Burnett, Rymell Bester, S. Carr, Semelda H., Seneca D., Sergio Lopez, Seth McKnight, Stephanie B., Stephanie Lozano, Stephnie Wilson, Suzy Harrison, T. Greene, Taylor Freeman, Tywana Paulk, Veronica L., Zachary S.