Amazon fires warehouse worker who organized Staten Island protest
For the most up-to-date news and information about the
coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.
An Amazon worker taking part in Monday's protest outside the
company's Staten Island warehouse.
Courtesy of Make the Road NY
Workers at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse took part in a
walkout on Monday afternoon to protest what they say are unsafe working
conditions. The demonstration came after at least one worker at that facility
has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Amazon said later Monday that the protest brought out 15
employees, out of 5,000 workers at the facility. It also said Christian Smalls,
who became a vocal organizer for the protest, was fired Monday for violating
"multiple safety issues," including instructions from the company to
stay home with pay for 14 days because he had been in close contact with an
infected employee. He instead came to the warehouse Monday, the company said.
"Amazon would rather fire workers than face up to its
total failure to do what it should to keep us, our families, and our
communities safe," Smalls said in an emailed statement released by protest
organizers. "I am outraged and disappointed, but I'm not shocked. As
usual, Amazon would rather sweep a problem under the rug than act to keep
workers and working communities safe."
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday called the
firing "immoral and inhumane." Her office is "considering all
legal options" related to the firing and called the National Labor
Relations Board to investigate.
In addition to Monday's strike, Whole Worker, a grassroots
group of Whole Foods employees, is planning a "sick out" on Tuesday
to protest conditions in the grocery stores. Amazon bought Whole Foods in 2017.
Separately, workers for the Instacart delivery service put together their own
national strike on Monday.
All these demonstrations point to increased frustration and
fear from rank-and-file workers in service and logistics jobs who still need to
work in public while millions of other Americans are asked to stay home during
the health emergency. Amazon has so far been able to ship packages to its
customers during the crisis, albeit with delays, but more strikes and more
workers falling ill could seriously hamper that work.
Amazon has repeatedly said it's working hard to protect
employees from the coronavirus, including increased cleanings and more physical
distancing at warehouses. Amazon said Monday that the "vast majority of
employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for
customers every day."
Employees and contractors have said Amazon isn't doing
enough to protect them. One employee told CNET workers weren't given enough
time to wash their hands if they cough or sneeze. Other workers have said
efforts to keep workspaces and delivery vans clean aren't consistently
followed.
As of Friday, more than a dozen Amazon warehouses in the US
had at least one worker who had tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory
illness caused by coronavirus.
In an emailed statement earlier Monday, an Amazon spokesperson
called out Smalls, saying his claims are "simply unfounded."
"We have heard a number of incorrect comments from
Christian Smalls, the hourly associate claiming to be the spokesperson on this
topic," the spokesperson wrote. "Mr. Smalls is alleging many
misleading things in his statements but we believe it's important to note that
he is, in fact, on a 14-day self-quarantine requested by Amazon to stay home
with full pay."
The spokesperson said Monday that Smalls had already been
given multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines, which
partly led to his firing.
The Staten Island facility is one of several around the
country that has active and vocal workers who have been pushing Amazon for
better working conditions, even before the coronavirus pandemic. Workers there
held a demonstration in late November as well. Early last year, Justin Rashad
Long, another employee at the Staten Island facility who spoke out about
working conditions there, was fired for safety violations.
Monday's protesters were joined by supporters from Athena,
New York Communities for Change and Make the Road NY, three advocacy
organizations that have often criticized Amazon's treatment of its workers.
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, another organization
that's worked with Amazon employees to hold public protests, sent out a
statement Monday night to decry Smalls' firing. Amazon employees in the US
aren't unionized.
"Workers should be protected when speaking out about
safety conditions during this crisis," union president Stuart Appelbaum
said. "They are performing a public service. It is unacceptable that
Amazon has terminated Chris Smalls for doing that today rather than addressing
their serious COVID-19 safety problems."
Amazon fires warehouse worker who organized Staten Island protest
Reviewed by bsm
on
April 13, 2020
Rating:

No comments: