New York Delivery Drivers Face Low Pay Even as Risks Mount
- Couriers in New York City earn an hourly wage of about $7.94
- Workers see more bike thefts, assaults since start of pandemic
Food delivery drivers were lauded as essential workers while they ferried meals to customers amid Covid-19 lockdowns that brought New York City to a standstill. A year later, the couriers powering platforms like DoorDash Inc. Grubhub, and Uber Technologies Inc. are plagued by low pay and lack of basic protections even as their risks grow, a new report shows.
Antonio Solis, 34, was delivering meals in Astoria, Queens when Hurricane Ida’s torrential storms triggered tornado warnings and historic flooding across New York. Even as rising water levels threatened to damage his scooter’s motor or cause him to lose control, he kept going. “Looking back, most orders weren’t even it worth it. One was $5,” he said. “But when you need the money you have no choice but to take the risk.”