Thousands of essential workers have had no choice but to work through the hazardous air from Canada’s raging wildfires that have triggered air quality alerts across the north-east US.
“We cannot afford not to go out to work,” said Antonio Solis, a delivery app worker and organizer with Los Deliveristas Unidos in New York City. “Because of this necessity, we’re forced to go out to work and take the risks.”
New York City had the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday. Schools and public events were canceled throughout the city, as city officials encouraged residents to remain indoors, limit outdoor activity and wear masks when outside.
But Solis said he and his colleagues could not afford to take a day off. “The problem is that because we don’t have a minimum wage, and we still have to rely on tips,” he said.
Ligia Guallpa, executive director of the Workers Justice Project, noted that app delivery workers, because they are classified as independent contractors, are excluded from minimum wage and worker protections and paid sick time leave. Workers have been pushing for local legislation to mandate these protections.
“This situation is a great example of why New York City needs to implement the minimum pay law that has been delayed because of corporations’ advocacy against having to pay a minimum wage for 65,000 deliveristas,” said Guallpa.
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