Why are Postmates workers across the country taking action from Wednesday, April 29 to Friday, May 1?
Read more about the #GuacOff here.
The pay has been steadily going down during the crisis and yet the work isn't getting any easier. In fact, it has become much more tough.
→ Karla Smith - LA
Postmates is boldly raking in the profits while they cut our pay. It is totally outrageous and unbelievable what they are getting away with. Having to go to restaurants, order the food, then pay for orders...then wait on the food, then deliver — all for $3 — was ridiculous even before the COVID crisis.
A huge increase in pay should have taken place. We should be provided with pay that measures the risk we are taking each day. Instead, we are working at an extremely high risk to our own health and safety for literally pennies and zero respect! It’s gotten so bad the last weeks that I have barely been able to accept any orders, or I’m basically paying money out of my own pocket to deliver for Postmates. And this has been happening to thousands of other hardworking people all across the US. We must demand change and stand together. It’s been soul-wrenching to be taken advantage of in such a time of crisis!
→ Ashley - Columbia, SC
It’s painful accepting orders and not knowing if you made at least $5 to cash out and buy gas. I’m risking my health and my safety for $3 an order.
→ Armetta - Williston, FL
The sick pay is kind of a scam. I was seriously ill for a month — I had a bad fever, this constant headache behind my eyes. I had all the messages from my doctor telling me to quarantine. But with Postmates, there’s no one to actually message. I sent in support tickets saying I’m sick, my doctor has told me to stay home, and I only got canned responses back. It’s a labyrinthine method to contact them.
I told them I could send in documentation, and they just never replied. They closed the support ticket, and I went without pay for an entire month. I’m behind on my rent because they won’t look out for the welfare of the people who enable their business to continue.
→ Khalil - NYC
I feel that we’re just as much on the front line as the doctors and nurses — it’s just we don’t know who we’re dealing with and if they’re sick or not. If we’re being kept doing this work as essential workers, it would only seem fair to appreciate us as essential.
→ Tracie - Portland, OR
I have stopped worked on Postmates during the crisis because I am not disposable and am not valued or protected.
→ Carolyn - Seattle, WA
We’re working hard during this crisis to get food to customers so they can stay home, and we still don’t get paid. Some of us do it to survive because we have no other choice. I enjoy what I do because of the freedom and flexibility — but I’m starting to feel very differently about it. Some days I dread having to go to work because of the pay, and I continuously ask if it’s worth it. Working 6 hours a day and making 35 or 40 dollars with no guaranteed tips is robbery — and 45 cents/mile is a joke.
I am high-risk to exposure because of my compromised immune system. Yes, I should stay home, but I have bills to pay. I’m not waiting for Postmates to do anything, I’m protecting myself. If they were going to do anything, they would have had the compassion to do it sooner. Obviously they don’t, and that is unacceptable. It’s about their bottom line.
→ Barbara - Greensboro, nc
Chipotle is one of the #1 restaurants that’s a problem — they have a really high volume of orders. I don’t know how they haven’t stopped doing the stacked orders — they’re shortchanging everyone.
→ MJ - LA
I've actually discontinued working for Postmates when I realized that doing more deliveries barely made a difference in pay, even during this time.
→ Joel - Doral, FL
I lost my previous job because I was in the hospital for almost a week with pneumonia and MRSA. I’m putting myself at risk delivering food, since I have just recovered from pneumonia and also have an autoimmune disease. All I have is a mask and a little bit of hand sanitizer.
We’re putting our lives at risk with the virus — and in return, the pay is absolutely horrible! We have to cover mileage and wear and tear on our cars. I’ve taken jobs where I had to drive 10 miles and they want to pay $2-3. I take the stand not to drive for Postmates until they pay us drivers better!
→ REgina - Fredericksburg, VA
Postmates is absolutely appalling during this crisis especially but have been appalling before this as well. Right at the beginning of this crisis, they decided to get rid of the $3 minimum per order — which in turn lowers our compensation and pay.
During this crisis I have had many, many deliveries that Postmates sends me on where the restaurants are closed because of COVID-19 and Postmates hasn't done their due diligence to find out — they still allow the customers to order from these restaurants. I accept the order and drive all the way to the restaurant, only to find out they're closed. They cancel the order and I receive absolutely zero pay for the time and gas and vehicle expenses for driving to that restaurant and missing out on other orders during that time. This has happened dozens of times to me — sometimes three or four times in one night. I’ve made complaint after complaint to Postmates about it only to fall on deaf ears.
→ Collin - Whiteford, MD
Stop stacking my orders and paying me less for combined drop-offs. The customers don't get a discount as a result of their order being stacked, so why should I be paid less? And rely on receiving (inconsistent) tips in the hope that I break even?
→ Michael - Glendale, AZ
The pay is horrible — $3.79 pay with no tip for a recent delivery. I have a family I have to take care of, and I can’t on this type of pay. I have to work 10 hours just to make $60 sometimes – and by the time I pay for gas, it’s more like $40. They work me to death with back-to-back orders and I’m shopping for people for pennies. It’s not right.
→ Latosia - Jersey City, NJ
Chipotle in particular is one restaurant that stands out as a place that could — but doesn’t — have orders ready for pick up when delivery drivers show up. They just don’t do it because the customer isn’t standing there waiting, it’s a delivery driver — and they don’t value our time spent waiting. It’s like we’re less than human to them. They couldn’t care less if we get sick.
→ Donna - san francisco, ca
I am 49 and have underlying health conditions, a history of previous lung damage. I started driving for Postmates to have more cash, in addition to my other part-time janitorial job. Postmates has provided some masks, but they’re not enough to protect the wearer from viruses — I wear a mask simply to ease the fears of my customers. As for my own protection, well, I reckon fate will decide whether I get the virus and die or get the virus and live. Not everyone is comfortable with such an outlook and delivery workers deserve a fair wage and better, more personal protective equipment!
→ Christy - simpsonville, sc
Us delivery drivers are putting ourselves at risk to bring customers their order, and some of the restaurants in my area aren't open so I barely have any deliveries to do and it’s affected me.
→ Cesar - MADIson, NJ
The market has been flooded with an influx of new workers — but Postmates hasn’t done anything to take care of us. You have to question whether or not they even need to make their own customers happy. I’m part of the system — I’m moving the food. I’m the link between the store and the customer. Don’t disrespect me.
→ James - everett, wa
This entire year, I haven't gotten a single bonus. It's been extremely low pay. Most people don't tip — the highest tip I've gotten recently has been $3. Every time I see that they're offering free delivery I think, “great, more underpaid drivers.”
→ Jerry - long island, ny
I am having symptoms of the virus and already have a compromised immune system. But Postmates won’t pay sick pay. I will be filing for temporary unemployment since they don't want to do the right thing — all they care about is keeping their pockets full while the workers suffer for little to nothing.
→ Kasandra - Scottsdale, AZ
I'm constantly taking deliveries where I’m being forced to pick up two or three deliveries from the same restaurant at the same time and drop them off separately. I only get paid for one pickup, and it doesn't pay for even half of the gas money I put in. I put in my life in danger and my loved ones lives in danger while I'm out trying to bring people the food they can't go out and get because of the virus. There's no hazard pay — there’s barely any pay at all. It doesn't even come close to minimum wage.
→ DEREK - LAS VEGAS
As essential workers we should be getting offered more money per order, with additional pay for total time spent on the order, as well as a daily bonus for working during this time — especially in areas under health orders.
→ Joseph - Denver, CO
At the moment I'm not working because I live with my 60-year-old mother and 93-year-old grandmother. Working for Postmates has meant that I would have to go out into the front lines of this pandemic, working this essential job but putting my family at massive risk — with Postmates not providing drivers with any safety gear, and worst of all, no extra money. I'm losing a lot of money. The structure of the Postmates model is that everyone working at the company is benefiting during these times of crisis — except the drivers, who are drowning in debt.
→ Ricardo - LA
I am currently social distancing, because I am considered high risk to catch the virus. But I stand with Postmates workers and understand what it is like to have no choice but to work. I have contracted for them since last year and definitely believe they need to get their heads out of their asses and acknowledge their contractors as people — not just a way to boost their company.
→ Kaletha - Omaha, NE
Gig workers are literally the backbone of America right now. Postmates needs to start paying them as such. It’s bad enough COVID is scaring the nation — we’re out here risking our health for people who can afford to isolate. Not everyone has that luxury.
→ Eric - Baltimore, MD
Pay was already bad, then the crisis caused a lot of new drivers to sign up. Postmates did not get better, but MUCH worse. Factoring in the added risk, it doesn't seem worth it.
→ Jason - Riverside, CA
People depend on us to do what they can’t or will not do. We also help the economy by helping others to deliver food when they can’t leave the house because they’re too elderly or ill.
→ Kisha - Carrollton, TX
I am risking my and my families’ lives to deliver for a little more than $3-5 — and that is ridiculous. We rely on tips, but the companies gouge customers and we pay the price. We’re being treated like our lives don't matter so the companies can make a huge profit.