Coronavirus: Target's Same-Day Delivery Workers To 'Walk-Off' Job

MINNEAPOLIS — Target's same-day delivery workers will walk off the job Tuesday to protest what they say are a lack of protections against the new coronavirus, including a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks and gloves.

In 2017, Minneapolis-based Target acquired Shipt, an app-based same-day delivery platform, for $550 million. The partnership meant that customers across the nation could get same-day delivery access to Target products.

"Shipt shoppers have been sounding the alarm for weeks, imploring Shipt to provide basic protections," reads a post from "Shipt Shoppers" on Medium.

"Rather than respond to the calls for action, Shipt chose to ignore shoppers’ pleas. Adding insult, Shipt implemented an unannounced pay cut last week. As a result, shoppers are ill-prepared to face the dangers the White House urgently warn against. Shoppers have no choice but to stage a walk off. It is simply too unsafe to work right now."

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Among the demands from Shipt workers are "PPE for every shopper," more time off for employees who contract COVID-19, and "hazard pay "of $5 per order.

"Quite frankly, Shoppers are fed up with Shipt disregarding the health and safety of customers and shoppers while playing games with Shopper pay," the Medium post continues. "During these uncertain times, Shipt must not put profits before people. It is unconscionable for Shipt to continue to ignore the concerns of its shoppers. Target is the 8th largest retailer in the country. They can afford to protect us and our customers during this pandemic."

The letter, signed by "Shipt Shoppers," ends by asking customers to boycott Shipt on April 10.

"We are so proud of our shopper community and how they’ve responded to the increase in demand and the opportunity to serve their communities," Shipt told VICE.

"We are focused on supporting them during this time with health and safety precautions, protective equipment and financial assistance. Our shoppers have been delivering record volumes to our customers, and they continue to schedule themselves to shop commensurate with what we’ve seen throughout the pandemic."

Also read: Coronavirus-Related Deaths In Minnesota Reach 30