Dear New Yorkers, 

With 2024 off to a racing start, I wanted to fill you in on some important organized labor updates that affect workers in New York City and across the country.  

Last month, I emailed you about a big win for New York city deliveristas. In a first-in-the-nation victory, food delivery app workers must now be paid a guaranteed minimum hourly pay rate of $17.96. 

In response, the powerful, multi-million-dollar food app companies concocted a new scheme to prevent workers from being paid fairly by overhauling how tips are processed. DoorDash only provides a tipping option after payment is completed, while Uber Eats only offers a tipping option after the food has been delivered (so please, keep tipping your delivery workers as we continue organizing to fight this). 

Despite this, I’m elated and unsurprised by new evidence showing how the long-fought battle for minimum hourly pay is already benefiting deliveristas. By guaranteeing a minimum pay, delivery workers are able to get paid without having to risk their lives to get orders done on a strict schedule — leading to safer streets for everyone. As executive director of the Worker’s Justice Project Ligia Guallpa says, “We are using the minimum pay to start building a culture of safety and hopefully win New Yorkers' hearts.” 

Continuing another win for workers, the U.S. Labor Department just issued final rules that force companies to treat more workers as employees rather than "independent contractors." This means higher wages and overtime pay for millions of workers in gig jobs, health care, construction, and more. These rules are another huge step forward for workers—not just in New York City, but nationwide! It's great to see the U.S. Labor Department cracking down on misclassification and ensuring that workers get the benefits they deserve from the companies that employ them. 

Good things come in threes, apparently, because last week the Federal Appeals Court upheld New York City’s just cause protections for fast food workers. I introduced this just cause law years ago as a City Council Member, and I’m so proud to see it in action, protecting workers today as intended. Siding with our fast food workers and protecting their jobs falls on the right side of history. 

These updates are true, solid steps forward for worker rights. Still, there are big battles brewing against multi-million dollar companies in 2024 – companies like Starbucks. More than two years into a campaign that has unionized more than 350 stores, Starbucks faces mounting pressure from union officials and activists who say it has illegally retaliated against workers and resisted contract negotiations. 

Shareholders were clear in a majority vote last year for our resolution calling on Starbucks to live up to their commitments to respect worker unionization without interference and good faith collective bargaining. Let’s be clear: Starbucks management’s continued anti-union behavior must cease. 

When workers fight, workers win. Will keep you updated with the latest. 

In solidarity, 

Brad