Adams vetoes bills that would have increased wages for NYC grocery delivery workers following pressure from Amazon and Instacart.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed two key bills designed to increase the minimum wage for grocery delivery workers, which would have boosted their pay to over an hour. This decision, made late Wednesday, follows a coordinated internal campaign against the measures led by Randy Mastro, the mayor’s first deputy, as revealed by sources familiar with the matter.

The two bills, passed by the City Council last month, had garnered significant support and were poised to come into effect if not vetoed by midnight Wednesday. One of these measures, Introduction 1135, would gradually impose a minimum wage of .44 per hour for grocery delivery workers employed by third-party companies such as Instacart. This wage aligns with new minimum pay standards established for restaurant delivery workers earlier this year. The second measure, Introduction 1133, seeks to extend the same wage protections to companies with contracted workers, specifically targeting retail giant Amazon, which owns Whole Foods and would be required to comply with these regulations.

Mayor Adams’ veto comes amid growing pressure from major delivery companies, including Amazon and Instacart, who have actively lobbied against the bills. Those companies argue that the proposed wage hikes would inevitably lead to increased grocery prices, a concern that has resonated during the current mayoral campaign. Nonetheless, proponents of the bills challenge this narrative, suggesting that the burden of increased costs would primarily fall on delivery platforms rather than grocery retailers themselves.

In a December 2024 hearing, Vilda Vera Mayuga, the commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, expressed support for the bills, emphasizing the necessity for protections for delivery workers throughout New York City. Following the mayor’s veto, Council Democrats now hold a veto-proof majority, which permits them to potentially override the mayor’s decision. To date, the City Council has successfully overridden Adams’ veto on three separate occasions.

Mastro’s influence in this situation highlights his authoritative management style, especially since he joined Adams’ administration earlier this year. His efforts have included attempts to reverse various initiatives, including plans related to affordable housing and environmental policies.

As discussions continue, Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate running to succeed Adams, has publicly expressed his hope that the mayor would reconsider his position on the veto, citing the demand from New Yorkers for a living wage. The outcome of this legislative battle is poised to have significant implications for the delivery workforce as well as the ongoing political landscape in New York City.