Delivery driver Gustavo Ajche braved hazardous wildfire smoke while delivering food in New York City this week, highlighting the challenges gig economy workers face.
Worker background: Ajche, originally from Guatemala, is a food delivery driver and construction worker in New York City.
* He is also the founder of labor group Los Deliveristas Unidos and a member of the Workers Justice Project, which fight for better pay and working conditions.
Impact of wildfires: Increasing global temperatures and hazardous air quality due to wildfires affect Ajche and thousands of other delivery drivers, who struggle to secure basic rights like earning minimum wage.
* There are approximately 65,000 delivery drivers in New York City, according to the department of transportation.
What’s needed: Ajche and other delivery drivers continue to fight for better wages in the city, as the council grapples with the issue.
Worker’s perspective: Ajche spoke with NPR, sharing his experience, the effects on his health, and how tipping improved, though he believes a just solution would be to pay delivery drivers a minimum wage.
This summary was created by an AI system. The use of this summary is subject to our Terms of Service.
Leave a Reply