New York City Mayor Eric Adams vetoed two bills that would set the minimum wage for grocery delivery workers. The legislation aimed to require third-party app companies, such as Instacart, to pay these workers a minimum of $21.44 an hour, matching the  wages food delivery workers received in April.

Adams’ reasoning for the vetoes is extremely flawed and misguided, making it clear that he doesn’t value all delivery workers equally.

Randy Mastro, Adams’s first deputy mayor, stated that he believed Adams opposed the legislation because it could increase grocery prices for New Yorkers at a time when many are struggling with rising costs.

“It’s a matter of affordability,” Mastro said. “To do this now, at this moment in time, would increase grocery prices for people who depend on deliveries, including seniors and people with disabilities.”

It sounds like his argument is that these workers shouldn’t be paid fair wages because there’s a chance it may negatively impact vulnerable New Yorkers in the future. 

However, the city’s nearly 20,000 grocery delivery workers, who deal with challenging working conditions, will be vulnerable now if they don’t receive a livable wage. This is a real problem that high bills can directly address.

In addition, if this service is as important as Mastro claims, then it should be a priority for the government to ensure that workers are being fairly compensated. If grocery delivery workers aren’t paid what they deserve, it could lead to a labor shortage. 

Grocery delivery workers’ jobs are equally as important to restaurant delivery workers. 

They help provide basic necessities for individuals who may not have the time or ability to shop for themselves. 

Adams’ support toward a standard wage for the latter but not the former is a puzzling and senseless choice.

The City Council still has a chance to override the veto with a two-thirds majority. 

“Mayor Adams is once again displaying hypocrisy – this time, by opposing common-sense minimum pay standards and protections for grocery delivery workers that his own administration negotiated with us to match existing ones for food delivery workers,” City Council spokesperson Julia Agos said in a statement. 

Given that Adams has repeatedly voiced his support for working-class citizens, it is disappointing to see him make decisions that suggest the complete opposite.

“Without fair wages and protections for delivery workers, there is no sustainable industry, just exploitation,” Argo said.