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Matthew Telles: Gig Workers Are Standing Up To Big Tech and You Should Too
In the years before the global COVID pandemic, more and more of our jobs in the US joined the growing “gig economy” — the Bureau of Labor estimated at least 55 million US gig workers in 2017.
As a massive surge for gig workers hits the US economy during lockdown and social isolation practices the pressure continues to bear down on “essential workers”, contractors, and employees of big tech companies like Amazon/Whole Foods, Instacart, Uber, Lyft, etc. — who have recently taken to the streets to shift power and demand justice.
Although no single source really seems to have a grip on the true size and scope of the Gig Economy, here are some interesting stats and projections:
About 36% of US workers are now involved in the gig economy (Gallop).
In 2018, US independent workers spent one billion hours per week freelancing (Upwork).
The gig economy is expanding three times faster than the US workforce as a whole (Forbes).
If the gig economy keeps growing at its current rate, more than 50% of the US workforce will participate in it by 2027 (Wonolo)
As silicon valley companies continue to shove the myths of hustle-culture down our throats, they demonstrate little evidence that they care for the working class, beyond branded lip-service to concepts of workplace empowerment, in any material ways.
While tech companies and giant e-commerce businesses continue to surge their profits during a global crisis I can’t but wonder — why are the rights of their workers are on the decline? What measure’s are in place for the healthcare of their workers? Why are union-busting tactics on the rise… in the shadows of an oncoming recession?
In order to get a better understanding and attempt to cut through the fog of the headlines, I sent a message to the Gig Workers Collective; “a non-profit group, led by veteran organizer Vanessa Bain, will bring the time, resources, and focus to the fight for fair pay and better treatment for all gig economy workers, from Instacart Shoppers to Lyft Drivers.”
The GWC put me in touch with one of their many outspoken, active members, named Matthew Telles. Matthew is a Chicago-based gig worker and former Instacart worker who spearheaded a mis-classification lawsuit against the San Francisco based tech company which won the shoppers, the contract gig-workers for Instacart, a settlement of over $4 million dollars in 2016.
In our conversation, Matthew paints a picture of the daily life of a gig worker during the coronavirus pandemic in the US and tell what’s at stake for contemporary gig workers; what the challenges, and successes can look like.
I’ve included a link to the podcast episode audio and video below, and to help guide you through our conversation ere’s a brief outline of the topics we cover with Matthew:
The common challenges that face solidarity and organizing labor within a freelance, contractor and gig economy
What the first 90 days of working for Instacart / grocery deliver apps looks like and the bottoming out of pay
The effects of big tech tactics like scale-hacking / growth-hacking
Tip baiting, pay-cuts and referral incentives
What the Gig Workers Collectives’ mission is and how it got started
The alienation of labor, the relationship between gig workers, grocery delivers and the people who order the groceries in a community
How gig workers can work cooperatively in times where they’re incentivized to compete with one another
The complexity and politics of giving and taking tips on apps and undercutting gig workers
What PPE looks like for gig workers during COVID pandemic
“Grocery workers are dying and Instacart isn’t doing them any favors” Matthew’s insights into health crisis and the gig economy
How we’ve been tricked by these tech companies for the sake of efficiency and the “freedom” of the gig economy
What the future looks like: fair pay, protections for employees and contractors
Alternate models (ie. Dumpling App, etc.)
What roles AI and data collective plays in stripping away democratic labor practices and how we might leverage that as the working class
Matthew’s top 3 book recommendations
Without further rambling, here’s our conversation on Picture Theory featuring Matthew Telles:
View all episodes
By MOCHAIn the years before the global COVID pandemic, more and more of our jobs in the US joined the growing “gig economy” — the Bureau of Labor estimated at least 55 million US gig workers in 2017.
As a massive surge for gig workers hits the US economy during lockdown and social isolation practices the pressure continues to bear down on “essential workers”, contractors, and employees of big tech companies like Amazon/Whole Foods, Instacart, Uber, Lyft, etc. — who have recently taken to the streets to shift power and demand justice.
Although no single source really seems to have a grip on the true size and scope of the Gig Economy, here are some interesting stats and projections:
About 36% of US workers are now involved in the gig economy (Gallop).
In 2018, US independent workers spent one billion hours per week freelancing (Upwork).
The gig economy is expanding three times faster than the US workforce as a whole (Forbes).
If the gig economy keeps growing at its current rate, more than 50% of the US workforce will participate in it by 2027 (Wonolo)
As silicon valley companies continue to shove the myths of hustle-culture down our throats, they demonstrate little evidence that they care for the working class, beyond branded lip-service to concepts of workplace empowerment, in any material ways.
While tech companies and giant e-commerce businesses continue to surge their profits during a global crisis I can’t but wonder — why are the rights of their workers are on the decline? What measure’s are in place for the healthcare of their workers? Why are union-busting tactics on the rise… in the shadows of an oncoming recession?
In order to get a better understanding and attempt to cut through the fog of the headlines, I sent a message to the Gig Workers Collective; “a non-profit group, led by veteran organizer Vanessa Bain, will bring the time, resources, and focus to the fight for fair pay and better treatment for all gig economy workers, from Instacart Shoppers to Lyft Drivers.”
The GWC put me in touch with one of their many outspoken, active members, named Matthew Telles. Matthew is a Chicago-based gig worker and former Instacart worker who spearheaded a mis-classification lawsuit against the San Francisco based tech company which won the shoppers, the contract gig-workers for Instacart, a settlement of over $4 million dollars in 2016.
In our conversation, Matthew paints a picture of the daily life of a gig worker during the coronavirus pandemic in the US and tell what’s at stake for contemporary gig workers; what the challenges, and successes can look like.
I’ve included a link to the podcast episode audio and video below, and to help guide you through our conversation ere’s a brief outline of the topics we cover with Matthew:
The common challenges that face solidarity and organizing labor within a freelance, contractor and gig economy
What the first 90 days of working for Instacart / grocery deliver apps looks like and the bottoming out of pay
The effects of big tech tactics like scale-hacking / growth-hacking
Tip baiting, pay-cuts and referral incentives
What the Gig Workers Collectives’ mission is and how it got started
The alienation of labor, the relationship between gig workers, grocery delivers and the people who order the groceries in a community
How gig workers can work cooperatively in times where they’re incentivized to compete with one another
The complexity and politics of giving and taking tips on apps and undercutting gig workers
What PPE looks like for gig workers during COVID pandemic
“Grocery workers are dying and Instacart isn’t doing them any favors” Matthew’s insights into health crisis and the gig economy
How we’ve been tricked by these tech companies for the sake of efficiency and the “freedom” of the gig economy
What the future looks like: fair pay, protections for employees and contractors
Alternate models (ie. Dumpling App, etc.)
What roles AI and data collective plays in stripping away democratic labor practices and how we might leverage that as the working class
Matthew’s top 3 book recommendations
Without further rambling, here’s our conversation on Picture Theory featuring Matthew Telles: