A very good thing has happened: for the first time, gig workers are making a minimum wage!
And a predictable thing is also happening: corporate app companies are mobilizing against gig worker minimum pay.
Just three weeks ago, the groundbreaking minimum pay ordinance for gig workers went into effect. This law grants us one of the first-ever gig worker minimum wages along with transparency safeguards (so we can work on our terms without fear of punishment through reduced orders or deactivation of our accounts). And it's working.
Predictably, paying workers a living wage makes multimillionaire app execs sad. :( They’re bending over backwards to make the implementation of this law feel bad for workers and customers alike — tacking on new and unsubtly-named “Regulatory Response Fees” and generating media coverage designed to make minimum wage for gig workers look like a bad idea.
“My name is Talisha. I am a gig worker on the Instacart app. And I wanted to express my immense pride for being part of the campaign that created fair pay to thousands of gig workers in our city. Every day we provide a wanted and needed service to the people of Seattle, and I can say personally since the PayUp policy was implemented a month ago, I’m already seeing improvements in my life ”
Three things to know:
The minimum pay law – just like all minimum pay law victories led by workers before it – is working. How well the apps are complying (which they’ve proven before they’ll try not to do) are things we’ll find out as the months and years unfold.
The apps are trying to generate public opposition to workers being paid fairly. This is in the apps’ interest. Giant corporations lost the battle to keep paying subminimum wages to workers here in Seattle, so they’re working double-time to make workers/customers/policymakers in other cities back down from that fight. Well bad news for them: minimum wage is super popular!
Brush up on the facts of the law so you can remind them that workers are making a living wage now if you hear someone saying something untrue about the minimum pay ordinance.
The bottom line:
Workers are making more money per order under this law.
Seattle gig workers organized for and won a minimum pay standard because we could not afford the food we are delivering or the service we are providing. We are a huge population of workers who, prior to the law, were making subminimum wage. We have created a path to gig work being sustainable and dignified and we’re proud of that. At the end of the day, raising pay for delivery workers keeps money in the community and that means a stronger economy here, for all of us.
Nothing about the law makes the apps charge customers a single additional fee.
The apps are choosing to do that to customers so their Silicon Valley CEOs and shareholders can keep raking in millions in record profit, just like they did last year and the year before.
This law passed unanimously because it’s a good, popular policy.
It was crafted over the course of years, with workers, big and small businesses, and policymakers at the table. From passage to implementation, corporations had over 18 months to figure out how to comply. It’s time to implement.
Engaging right now is vital, and being informed is the most important element of fighting back. To do that we need data, stories, and facts. If you’re a gig worker, come to our Feb. 15th Know-Your-Rights clinic to get your questions answered about this law, meet other gig workers, and speak to our legal team. If you’re a customer, join us in making sure this law is implemented and send us screenshots so we can track the lies apps are telling the public.
We’re strongest when we stick together against the corporations who try to divide us in order to get rich.
Stay tuned. La lucha sigue.
