Some workers from third-party delivery service Postmates on Wednesday said they would refuse all orders from Chipotle Mexican Grill to demand sick leave, hazard pay and personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus crisis.
The labor action is coordinated by advocacy group The Pay Up campaign, which is calling this three-day labor action a #GuacOff.
The move highlights the increased tensions between restaurants, third-party delivery providers and workers as most operators are forced to put renewed emphasis on delivery with their dining rooms subject to state-mandated shutdowns.
Chipotle did not respond to a Restaurant Business request for comment on the action or any repercussions it may cause.
Postmates said it offers a variety of protections for its employees.
“The organizations involved in these actions are not associated with Postmates,” the company said in a statement. “We continue to offer child care, income coverage if you’re sick or caring for a loved one, money for doctors’ appointments or urgent care visits, free safety gear, PPE and more through our Fleet Relief Fund. We will continue to work directly with our fleet and worker-advocacy groups to ensure we are continuing to support essential workers at this time.”
According to Postmates, its average delivery driver earns about $25 per hour. The workers behind the labor action, however, say they make $2 per delivery.
“$2 per delivery is not a wage,” the group said on its website. “It’s what Chipotle charges for a scoop of guacamole. Chipotle has boasted about giving their workers sick leave and a 10% pay bump—but the Postmates workers delivering their food lack any of these essential protections.”
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