"The worst of both worlds": GoPuff workers gain national attention with open letter

Ever heard of the delivery app GoPuff? If not, you will soon. The company dispatches drivers from warehouses to get chips & beer to customers’ doors in as little as 20 minutes. They’ve expanded to over 450 locations in almost every state across the US so far — and during the pandemic, their valuation has skyrocketed to $8.9 billion.

GoPuff is raking in billions because of its “innovative” business model: hiring gig workers for shift work at just $3 per job. These subminimum wages are nothing new in the gig economy — companies like Uber Eats and DoorDash also pay subminimum wages to workers on the promise of flexibility.

But GoPuff takes it a step further. They call their workers "independent contractors" so they can get away with paying subminimum wages, but GoPuff doesn't even bother to pretend workers have real flexibility. GoPuff drivers work on scheduled shifts, have to take whatever orders they're given, and even report to managers.

That means workers get the worst of both worlds: none of the protections that come with being an employee, and none of the flexibility that's important to many people who do gig work. 

GoPuff drivers don't want this model to become the future of the gig economy, and so they're organizing to fight back. This week, they released an open letter demanding a real commitment to fair hourly pay, an end to discrimination & unjust termination, and the flexibility they were promised.

Collective action is powerful — and workers are already getting national media attention, including this write-up in The Hill.

>>>With your support and solidarity, they can take it even further & force GoPuff to pay up. Please join us in signing the open letter and tell GoPuff it’s time to pay up. <<<

For years, workers on apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Postmates have been organizing to address low pay, lack of flexibility, and discrimination in the gig economy. And we've built some serious momentum: in Seattle, workers with our Pay Up campaign are ramping up their push to win new laws that raise pay, protect flexibility, and provide transparency.

Now, GoPuff workers are the latest to speak out and demand big changes:

“GoPuff knows what they’re doing — they know they want an employee model, but don’t want the liability or requirement to pay people like employees. Once you’re on shift, you have to take the orders they give you. If you drop a shift and no one takes it, it’s on you. They’ll try to intimidate you and say they’re going to kick you off the platform if you can’t work your schedule.” — Ray

“They might tell you you made $12 an hour, but really you have to take away what you have to spend on mileage, your tips, divide that by the hours you worked — and when you do the math, it doesn’t come out to a livable wage. I’m a grown person with grown people bills. I have a car note and insurance I need to pay just to keep this job.” — C.A.

“During the pandemic, I raised a lot of issues about our safety — we weren’t given PPE, and employees inside the warehouse weren’t wearing masks. On top of that, our hourly guarantee was cut from $14/hour to $8/hour. One day my manager pulled me aside. He said he knew I’d been raising questions with driver support about our pay rate and not being treated like independent contractors...When I came in the next day, I was told I’d been deactivated.” — Jacqulyn

Whether you’re a gig worker, customer, or just a supporter, GoPuff drivers can use your support! Join our action: