US essential workers strike to demand better conditions during pandemic
Workers from Amazon, Whole Foods, Instacart, Walmart, FedEx, Target, and Shipt are coming together in what they’re calling a “May Day Protest.”
Frontline workers from the seven companies are walking out on Friday, International Workers Day, demanding better protection against COVID-19 and protesting the lack of safety in their work environments.
In a graphic being shared on various social media platforms, strikers are seeking hazard pay, no-test-required paid sick leave, better protective equipment, better sanitary procedures, immediate information on infected coworkers, and immediate shutdown of infected locations.
No Walmart, Amazon, FedEx, Whole Foods, Target, Trader Joe’s, Shipt, or Instacart today! #MayDay
Boycotting is easier than striking, but worthwhile in the context of strike support. pic.twitter.com/gRrGW5cYWv
— Nick No War Mamatas 🤼♂️🏴 (@NMamatas) May 1, 2020
Hundreds of supporters online have agreed to support the strike by refraining from ordering online and refusing to stream on Amazon-owned website Twitch.
Here’s what a few of them have to say:
We are cancelling today’s planned stream in solidarity with striking Amazon workers here and abroad. Twitch is an Amazon-owned platform. We encourage all to stand with the strikers and boycott Amazon and its subsidiaries, as well as Instacart, FedEx, Walmart, Shipt, and Target. pic.twitter.com/9vU3f3Cumi
— Spectacle Theater (@SpectacleNYC) May 1, 2020
So much love to every Amazon worker walking off their job, every renter hanging a banner from their rooftops, every single person fighting for their right to exist in this city and this world despite the disease that is killing us. You are so beautiful. Happy May Day
— Molly Crabapple🇵🇷 (@mollycrabapple) May 1, 2020
i will not stream today because of the amazon boycott thing. I’d suggest you do the same.
— allie howie 🌺✨ (@alexh0w) May 1, 2020
Today would be a particularly bad day to cross a picket line. Do not shop from whole foods/amazon, target, insta cart, walmart today.
Happy May Day! And solidarity with fellow workers. We should not die for someone else’s profit.
— sunshine (@cptn_sun_shine) May 1, 2020
Holy shit it’s May. Anyways, happy May Day. Shout out to the labor movement. Don’t buy from target, Amazon, instacart & Trader Joe’s today and stand in solidarity of workers demanding basic rights. #MayDay
— Jeff DeBray (@JeffDebray) May 1, 2020
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