 Some Amazon warehouse workers in New York and Instacart workers nationwide have announced on Monday that they are going on Strike because since they're considered essential during this global pandemic Well, their health and well-being should also be considered essential But they are saying that their employers aren't taking their concerns about coronavirus seriously Hence they're striking until their demands are met So for more on this story we go to Alina Salika and Shannon Bond of NPR who report Some Amazon warehouse workers in Staten Island, New York and Instacart's grocery delivery workers nationwide Walked off their jobs on Monday They're demanding a stepped up protection and pay as they continue to work while much of the country is asked to Isolate as a safeguard against the coronavirus the protests come as Amazon and Instacart have said they plan to hire Tens of thousands of new workers online shopping and grocery home delivery are skyrocketing as much of the nation hunkers down And people stay at home following recommendations from federal and local governments This has put a spotlight on workers who shop pack and deliver these high-demand supplies Companies referred to the workers as heroes, but workers say their employers aren't doing enough to keep them safe The workers are asking for a variety of changes workers from both Amazon and Instacart want more access to paid sick time off At this time it's available only to those who have tested positive for the coronavirus or get placed on mandatory self-quarantine Amazon workers want their warehouse to be closed for a longer cleaning with guaranteed pay Instacart's grocery delivery gig workers are asking for disinfected wipes and hand sanitizer and better pay to offset the risk They are taking workers at Amazon Staten Island facility have said that multiple people at the warehouse have been diagnosed with COVID-19 Some of them plan to walk off the job on Monday to pressure the company to close the warehouse for an extended deep cleaning at Amazon which employs some 800,000 people workers have diagnosed positively for COVID-19 and at least 11 warehouses forcing a prolonged closure of at least one warehouse in Kentucky now what they're asking for I think is perfectly Reasonable so these demands shouldn't be very difficult for these companies to meet and I would encourage all of you to not cross the picket line do not shop at these companies as they as they have these negotiations and You know, we have to show solidarity with the workers. These are things that should not have to be asked for They should just be automatically provided to workers. But the fact that we have Amazon a company where They're literally asking employees to donate their sick time to people with COVID-19 rather than just offering extended paid sick leave to everyone It's just we shouldn't have this happening Now, of course, we need to have federal protections codified into law But the mere fact that workers have to ask for these things Hand sanitizer extra paid sick leave during a global pandemic. It shows you The priorities of corporate America. They don't care about their workers to them Their workers are easily replaceable, right? It doesn't really matter if they get sick or they die even They see them as just cogs in a machine that they can easily replace with someone else Who's desperate lots of people are losing their jobs So likely, you know, they're going to turn to these types of jobs in the gig economy, right uber eats Instacart so right now They probably don't really feel like they have to pay attention to their workers Because they're not going to do it just out of the goodness of their heart But if we all choose to not shop at these, uh outlets Use these services until they meet the demands Maybe they'll actually take their employees seriously now I do want to share a video of the protests And um, just let you see what they have to say at least one amazon worker has to say I think that this is perfectly reasonable So I don't feel safe I mean Who hears her and thinks how unreasonable is she being? Why should these workers put their lives on the line For an employer who doesn't respect them? Why should they do that? The answer is they shouldn't do that. They shouldn't do that And you know, finally as someone who formerly worked in fast food and retail, it's nice to see people Finally pay lip service To us and say, you know, uh, hey, we really appreciate you, you know, brave in the storm so to speak and working during this crisis um Well, if you believe in that then definitely support Workers rights support increases in the minimum wage the same people who basically denounce a 15 dollar an hour minimum wage Are the same people like tommy laren for example Who are talking about how heroic the grocery store cashed years are? All right. Well, if you believe that then actually acknowledge their full humanity acknowledge that they deserve paid sick leave a livable wage Vacation time that's paid where you don't just take it off and have to save money Not just for the vacation but extra money to cover the bills most instances you just don't get a vacation, but I mean It's time that we acknowledge how valuable All of these workers are not just during a global pandemic, but just all the time All the time if you are a fast food worker You deserve a livable wage if you work for an amazon warehouse. You shouldn't be forced To uh piss and bottles to make sure that you meet your strict delivery guidelines I shouldn't even have to say that right So I really hope that these demands are met But if they are not we all should not cross the picket line Do not support these companies if they are not going to support their employees because if they know that this Protest isn't going to affect their bottom line If they know that customers are still going to shop there and not pay attention They're going to replace all these workers and just hire other people because there's lots of people looking for work currently because they're losing their jobs Because of this pandemic and in these industries and amazon and instacart and uber eats They're going to be booming currently these delivery services So they can't you know Capitalize on this crisis By just you know, uh treating their workers like garbage. They have to acknowledge That we see as consumers what they do and how they treat their workers and we will respond Accordingly if they don't choose to value their employers So I hope that this is effective and I hope that they get all that they want And more because they deserve it everyone deserves this