Instacart

Instacart Workers Call for Walk-Off to Protest Ongoing Bad Treatment | Eater

"Independent shoppers for a major grocery-delivery platform are planning a one-day walk-off on October 16 organized by Gig Workers Collective to pressure the company on five demands, including higher pay, better benefits, occupational death benefits, and a minimum 10% tip. Organizers allege the platform cut its base pay floor in 2019 (from $10 to $7), now pays a single $7 base for multi-order batches after item commissions were removed (a claimed ~76% reduction in base pay when batching), and uses opaque pay language even though batch payouts are shown before acceptance. They also criticize the rating system and weak fraud protections for leaving shoppers vulnerable to scams and unfair penalties—pointing to temporary suspensions when customers aren’t home, wrong addresses, or minors attempt alcohol purchases—and note a history of using tips to subsidize guarantees and fighting hazard pay during the pandemic. The company counters that there is a $7–$10 per full-service batch minimum depending on expected time and effort, that injury protection (including accidental death coverage) exists, and that some requested offerings are already on the platform, while workers insist those measures are insufficient." - Jaya Saxena