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What other people are saying about Amazon's warehouse safety protocols?

 


The House Committee on Oversight and Reform has launched an investigation into Amazon’s labor practices around severe weather events focusing on their Illinois warehouse where six people died in a tornado strike last winter.

The committee is seeking documents and communication records from Amazon within the next two weeks, according to a letter signed by Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO) and was sent to Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy. The letter states that Amazon threatened to fire employees if they left work as the Tornado touched down on the area and that delivery drivers weren’t allowed to call drivers back without Amazon’s approval despite the tornado warning. The storm eventually hit the warehouse, which collapsed and killed six people.

Furthermore, new evidence revealed that Amazon’s Illinois warehouse had support beams that weren’t anchored to the ground, which a critical violation of international building code. When the tornado struck and collapsed the building, killing six people. One of them was a 26 year old delivery driver named Austin McEwin. The McEwin family filed a lawsuit against Amazon and is represented by Jack Casciato of Clifford Law Offices. The attorneys learned about the flaw in the support beams and submitted a report to the public about it.

“Looking at the base of the columns more closely, I could find no weld or bolted connection at the base of any column. An examination of several of the empty pockets where columns once stood also did not reveal any indication of positive securement of the columns at or below the finished floor level”.

This investigation also revealed that Amazon began receiving severe weather warnings about a tornado a full day before it struck. Instead of sending workers home, they forced workers to stay through the storm. They put profits over people lives and as a result six people lost their lives.

In the aftermath of this deadly tornado. Amazonians United, a labor union, in six delivery stations along the East Coast circulated a petition with seven demands. “We demand a clear inclement weather policy that takes workers into account”, “Our phones stay with us for emergencies”, “End understaffing and keep the pace of work at a safe and sustainable level” are few. The company granted some of those demands so far such as allowance of phones on the work floor and a weather policy.

In summary, I like the positions that each group is taking towards this issue. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform are launching an investigation into their labor practices around severe weather events. Clifford Law Offices is suing Amazon for negligence in proper support beams within their warehouse. Lastly, Amazonian United is demanded new changes within the company. Each one of these groups is putting Amazon in the hot seat and forcing them to face the consequences of their actions and put workers’ safety over profits immediately.

 

 

https://prospect.org/labor/amazon-warehouse-workers-walk-out/

https://www.amazoniansunited.org/press

https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/1/23006449/amazon-investigation-oversight-reform-committee-us-house-edwardsville-tornado

https://capitolfax.com/2022/04/08/law-firm-claims-amazon-warehouse-support-beams-in-tornado-hit-edwardsville-building-not-properly-anchored-to-the-ground/

Comments

  1. Marcella BangkongApril 10, 2022 at 6:22 PM

    I do hope all these lawsuits, required documentations, and demands seriously change Amazon's approach to how they treat their workers. Especially because Amazon has the money to pay back and gloss over these problems and move on from these problems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FlySeddyApril 11, 2022 at 9:26 PM

      That's the sad part about these lawsuits. Many of these companies can make a settlement and keep conducting shady business as usual because they have billions of cash on hand

      Delete
  2. BloggerApril 11, 2022 at 7:07 AM

    The different methods to solve this issue are a good way to make sure there puts an end to this unethical behavior. Workers shouldn't be forced to put their lives in danger for the company. Amazon should realize that if something were to happen to these workers, their name would be out there and people would look at Amazon differently. If they let the workers continue a different day, then they might fall behind but it is better to be safe than sorry.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 12, 2022 at 5:26 AM

    I think that warehouse workers are treated more poorly than an average worker. They have to overwork to meet the demand of the company. I feel like people are treated more as a number in the company rather than person. Substantial actions need to be taken to get these warehouse workers rights and be treated more than a number in the company

    ReplyDelete

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