“It’s becoming a struggle. Everybody is at the beck and call of these corporations. There should be a consensus in society that people deserve to be able to eat."
— Raymond, Seattle gig delivery driver, speaking to The Seattle Times
Multibillion dollar gig companies like DoorDash are exploiting legal loopholes to get away with paying far less than the Seattle minimum wage, leaving workers like Raymond struggling to eat and cover other basic expenses.
Pay is so low that DoorDash comes in at #12 on the list of companies in WA with the largest number of workers receiving food stamps. And they’re not alone among gig companies on that list: Uber is #3, Amazon is #5, and Lyft is #9.
While the workers delivering food struggle to afford their own groceries, DoorDash’s first quarter earnings report shows soaring revenue: they hauled in $1 billion from 329 million orders, and wealthy investors are absolutely giddy at the news, driving DoorDash stock prices up by 20%.
That's why we need Seattle City Council to act. Elected officials must ensure that people who depend on the flexibility of gig work — especially people of color, immigrants, workers with disabilities, LGBTQ workers, and single parents — have the economic security they need to make it through this crisis and help set our city on the path to an equitable recovery going forward.
Right now, the City Council is considering a proposal from Councilmember Herbold to formally commit to raise pay, protect flexibility, and provide transparency for gig workers this year — and we’ve got to make sure they follow through.
Add your voice today and urge Seattle City Council to commit to passing the Pay Up policies this year:
This is simple. It’s about ending subminimum wages, taking on runaway corporate greed, and making sure gig workers have the same basic rights as other workers. Let’s be sure Councilmembers know workers are watching.