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In a first, Instacart employees in Illinois vote to unionize

UFCW to represent part-time Instacart shoppers at Mariano’s in Skokie

Russell Redman

February 5, 2020

3 Min Read
Instacart personal shopper_grocery.jpg
Overall, Instacart employs 12,000 in-store shoppers and 130,000 full-service shoppers to fulfill online grocery orders for delivery or pickupInstacart

Instacart in-store shoppers in Skokie, Ill., have voted to unionize with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1546.

UFCW 1546 said the workers are the first Instacart employees to win a certified union election in the United States and will join with the Chicago-based local’s other 18,000 members. The Feb. 1 vote, conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, involved 15 part-time Instacart personal shoppers at a Mariano’s supermarket, part of The Kroger Co., in Skokie.

“We’re very happy with the results of the election. It is the first in the nation in regard to Instacart,” UFCW 1546 President Bob O’Toole told Supermarket News. “And I’m glad to hear that Instacart has committed to honor the choice the employees made in the election and bargain in good faith to reach a contract.”

Overall, San Francisco-based Instacart employs 12,000 in-store shoppers and 130,000 full-service shoppers to fulfill online grocery orders for same-day delivery or pickup. In-store shoppers, however, are part-time Instacart employees who pick, pack and stage items at a dedicated retail store, whereas full-service shoppers operate as independent contractors who pick, pack and/or deliver an order from a store to the customer’s door. 

“Instacart cares deeply about all members of our community, which includes in-store shoppers who are part-time employees. We will always support employee freedom and choice, and we respect our employees’ rights to explore unionization,” Instacart said in a statement. “Pending certification of the election results, Instacart will honor the outcome of this election and the decision of these 15 part-time employees in Skokie to choose union representation. We will then begin the process of negotiating in good faith on an initial collective-bargaining agreement that covers this location.”

Related:Under fire, Instacart changes personal shopper pay model

So far, no timetable has been set for contract talks with Instacart to begin, according to UFCW 1546’s O’Toole. “We would certainly prefer sooner — the sooner the better, because it can be a lengthy process,” he said.

The Instacart in-store shoppers at the Skokie Mariano’s store sought union representation because of concerns about wages, turnover, the pace of work, employee ratings and a cap on hours that made them ineligible for benefits, according to published reports. Since the in-store shoppers are classified as part-time employees of Instacart — not as independent contractors like the full-service shoppers — they were eligible to unionize.

“We decided to organize with UFCW Local 1546 because of the overall bad treatment we have received from Instacart,” Joe Loftis, an employee of Instacart at the Skokie Mariano’s, said in a statement on the union vote.

Related:Instacart personal shoppers get quicker access to earnings

Instacart said part-time employees receive competitive pay and work fewer than 30 hours per week, which provides them the flexibility to accommodate other jobs or personal responsibilities. “The in-store shopper role offers work that fits around an individual's life, including choosing your own hours and canceling if something comes up,” the company explained. Instacart noted that, last year, it instituted a new nationwide, tenure-based pay structure that progressively increases hourly pay to reward individuals for continued service.

“While today’s election only affects in-store employees assigned to this store, we remain committed to providing the best experience for all customers and employees,” Instacart stated.

UFCW 1546 said the Instacart part-time workers in Skokie “made history” in voting to unionize.

“The employees who work for Instacart inside of the Mariano’s grocery store in Skokie, Ill., specifically sought out UFCW Local 1546 for union representation. The workers remained united throughout the organizing campaign despite being subjected to their company’s anti-union stance,” O’Toole said in a statement on the vote. “We look forward to this opportunity to work with our new Instacart members in negotiating their first union contract.”

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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