Thousands of essential workers have had no choice but to work through the hazardous air from Canada\u2019s raging wildfires that have triggered air quality alerts across the north-east US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe cannot afford not to go out to work,\u201d said Antonio Solis, a delivery app worker and organizer with Los Deliveristas Unidos in New York City. \u201cBecause of this necessity, we\u2019re forced to go out to work and take the risks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runner with manhattan skyline visible through smoky haze<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Canada wildfires smoke could linger over parts of US for days, officials warn<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Solis said he and his colleagues could not afford to take a day off. \u201cThe problem is that because we don\u2019t have a minimum wage, and we still have to rely on tips,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis situation is a great example of why New York City needs to implement the minimum pay law that has been delayed because of corporations\u2019 advocacy against having to pay a minimum wage for 65,000 deliveristas,\u201d said Guallpa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dangerous pollution levels have reminded some of the Covid pandemic, which struck New York and its essential workers particularly hard. After the pandemic, there were renewed calls for more protections for essential workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In March 2023, New York City\u2019s mayor, Eric Adams, rolled back a $23.82 an hour minimum wage for delivery workers that was set to be enacted by 2025 to $19.96 per hour. The city has also delayed rolling out minimum pay scales that were scheduled to go into effect six months ago as delivery app companies, worker groups and elected officials battle over how and how much workers will be paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of the lack of protections, Los Deliveristas Unidos have been directly distributing N95 masks to workers, as the delivery app companies have not been ensuring workers are provided personal protective equipment to work through the wildfire smoke conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf they can\u2019t afford to not go to work, we\u2019re recommending they\u2019re wearing respirators, specifically N95 masks,\u201d added Guallpa. \u201cIf they\u2019re at a worksite, their employer should be providing N95 respirators, making sure there is ventilation, air purifiers if they\u2019re working indoors, and if they get sick, they should get paid sick time and they shouldn\u2019t be retaliated against for speaking up against unsafe working conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n