Digital art campaign reaffirms support for delivery workers

#EssentialTONYC
Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs

In late December, the City launched a digital art campaign, #EssentialToNYC, reaffirming support for delivery workers and other essential workers.

These included bodega and grocery store workers, home care workers, nail salon technicians and all aestheticians, and taxi workers and all workers who transport New Yorkers. 

Featuring real New Yorkers of these professions, the campaign highlights the importance of these workers in keeping the City running, connect New Yorkers to resources, and encourage New Yorkers to stand in solidarity against acts of discrimination, harassment, and violence that many essential workers continue to face. 

“Since the onset of the pandemic, delivery workers were on the frontlines of this crisis, showing us that they have and will continue to be essential to our city,” said Raquel Batista, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA). “These actions are a significant win to ensure the safety and livelihood of this community. MOIA looks forward to working with our sister agencies to ensure deliveristas know their rights.”

“The #EssentialtoNYC campaign reaffirms our support for essential workers who have been on the frontlines of the pandemic in NYC,” Shaina Coronel, MOIA press secretary, told Caribbean Life.  

“Working with several organizations, we were able to connect with real people who have been essential workers during the City’s most difficult time,” she added. “This campaign was part of a larger announcement made of several action items to support delivery workers.  

Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs

“With this campaign, we hope to encourage New Yorkers to stand in solidarity against acts of discrimination, harassment, and violence that many essential workers continue to face,” Coronel continued.  

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio, on Dec. 21 announced, in advance of legal workplace protections that go into effect in 2022, that he had marshalled agencies together to implement a series of additional efforts to support and improve the health, safety and working conditions for the city’s 65,000+ delivery workers. 

“Delivery workers have served as essential workers throughout the pandemic, and we’re grateful for their contributions to New York City’s economy,” de Blasio said. “These increased safety measures and labor protections are key to helping delivery workers recover and thrive.” 

“It is not an exaggeration to say that delivery workers kept our City running throughout the pandemic. At great personal risk, they have delivered goods to homebound New Yorkers and have kept our small businesses afloat,” said J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives. 

“I applaud the organizing effort of advocacy organizations who have helped secure basic workplace protections for delivery workers, and hope that these measures taken by the City can continue to uplift and support these essential workers.”