Catherwood LibraryILR School

Across the nation, essential workers who have suddenly found themselves on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic are rallying for greater protections and pay. Amazon workers have protested for protective equipment while gig economy drivers and shoppers have taken action to protect themselves. In California, fast food workers held a protest from their cars in protest of a lack of coronavirus protections. Despite the relative increase in activism that has occurred over the past few weeks, workers have run into a number of challenges while trying to organize due to communication barriers. Additionally, unions are more successful when unemployment is low- rising unemployment rates are anticipated to cause a host of issues for unions due to a decrease in bargaining power.