‘The Strike Wave Is in Full Swing’: Amazon, Whole Foods Workers Walk Off Job to Protest Unjust and Unsafe Labor Practices
“One of the best ways to thank essential workers is to support the fight to improve their lives.”
(By: Julia Conley, Common Dreams) Labor rights advocates on Monday urged the public to show support and solidarity with Amazon employees who walked off the job at a Staten Island warehouse following what the workers said was an unacceptable response by the company to at least one case of coronavirus at the facility.
Between 50 and 200 employees at the warehouse, known as JFK8, walked off the job around 12:30 pm Monday, days after at least one case of coronavirus was reported at the facility. Christian Smalls, an employee who is organizing the strike, told CNN the number of employees who have tested positive for the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, is actually between five and seven, though the company has only acknowledged one infection.
The workers are demanding that Amazon shut the warehouse down and ensure it is sanitized before requiring employees to work again.
“We’re not asking for much,” Smalls said. “We’re asking the building to be closed and sanitized, and for us to be paid [during that process].”
By ignoring the threat of transmission to other workers, tweeted the grassroots group New York Communities for Change, “Amazon is putting profits over safety.”
Live at @amazon JFK8 walkout to demand protections for workers and the public during COVID-19. Amazon is putting profits over safety#amazonstrike #ProtectAmazonWorkers pic.twitter.com/YRWGu5gx2R
— New York Communities for Change (@nychange) March 30, 2020
Amazon is allowing contract workers to apply for sick pay if they test positive for the coronavirus or need to self-quarantine due to exposure, but the company is not providing them with paid sick leave as a matter of policy. Employees who are able to get tested are required to report for work while they wait for their results—a process which can take days and thus could be exposing the warehouse’s 5,000 workers, and anyone they interact with outside of work, to COVID-19.
Amazon facilities have quickly become “breeding grounds for this pandemic,” Smalls said. As of Monday, the virus has infected more than 144,000 people in the U.S.—the most of any country in the world—including more than 60,000 in New York State.
“We know we’re not alone at JFK8 and that conditions are similar in Amazon facilities everywhere,” Phillip Ruiz, a warehouse employee, told New York Communities for Change. “Amazon’s actions do not match their statements that they are prioritizing our health or the health of the public.”
The JFK8 strike comes days after workers at an Amazon facility in Queens refused to work their night shift after a fellow employee tested positive. The action also coincided with a strike Monday by gig workers for the grocery delivery app Instacart who are demanding hazard pay, supplies including hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and paid sick leave for workers with health issues which could make the coronavirus more dangerous to them.
Advocates on social media urged consumers to support the Instacart and Amazon workers.
“The richest man in the world can’t even provide basic protection for his workers during this pandemic crisis because it hurts his bottom line,” tweeted New York Assembly member Ron T. Kim of Amazon’s multi-billionaire CEO, Jeff Bezos. “I stand in solidarity with Amazon workers.”
Hi! Step away from the Instacart and Amazon orders! Support these workers! https://t.co/lMot2BYJX8
— Lily Herman (@lkherman) March 30, 2020
One of the best ways to thank essential workers is to support the fight to improve their lives.
Instacart & Amazon workers are on strike for:
– Safer working conditions
– Paid leave 4all
– Hazard payYou can help. Skip your order today &offer to help those who rely on delivery. https://t.co/7Z3wTNB0fF
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 30, 2020
Vice on Monday reported that employees of Whole Foods—which is owned by Amazon—plan to call in sick Tuesday to demand paid sick leave for all workers who have to quarantine during the pandemic, free coronavirus testing for employees, and hazard pay.
“The strike wave is in full swing,” tweeted Lauren Kaori Gurley of Vice.
Whole Foods has kept stores in a number of cities open even after reports that employees in the stores have tested positive for the coronavirus. The supermarket chain is offering paid sick leave only to workers who test positive for the respiratory illness, Vice reported—a policy which, as with Amazon, could expose many workers and shoppers to the virus.
“My doctor asked me to quarantine for two weeks and I haven’t been able to get paid time off,” one anonymous worker told Vice. “Whole Foods said we wouldn’t get it unless we got a positive test. There are a lot of people in my situation who aren’t receiving time off. It’s hard to imagine that those who couldn’t afford to do so would stay home. Whole Foods says if you’re feeling better, you should come to work.”
Jeff bezoar is a fucking jerk
Bezos is a fuck
I work as a shopper in the Whole Foods in Newark, NJ. I am not an employee of Whole Foods, I work for Amazon Prime. The store had a cleaning crew come in to clean and Amaxon posted shifts for Prime workers to clean our area but you have customers coming in with their children. Those children are running all over the store touching things. We have to buy our on PPE if we want them, Whole Foods refused to share supplies and Amazon did not supply is with enough wipes, disinfectant spray, paper towels, or gloves. And forget masks, that was a no go. We are “gig” workers. We literally have to fight to get shifts. If you miss the “shift drop”, you have to wait for the next day. Due to the over hiring from “corporate”, shifts are harder to get. Their idea of hazard pay is offering $2 more per hour but they are cutting how many shifts will be available. And trust me there are so many issues that we have to deal with on a regular day. Coronavirus has made it 100 times harder.
Amazon could care less about the needs of a human worker .. They plan on doing away with human workers .. being replaced with robots like AI .. I would say Besos is of the devil.
I work in a warehouse for amazon and they have done nothing but try to take precautions for two months now. The raise is actually a great thing. Especially when other companies are just laying people off. We also get double pay for over time. Yes they just hired more people which is good and bad. It gave lay offs a way to make money now. However, it increased the amount of people inside the warehouse and whole foods. We are still being offer VET’s. It slowed down for the good shift but we can come in early and or stay late. They hired a extra cleaning crew as well. Plus we always wear gloves. They ordered mask for us and we also have eye protection now. The vans and the wearhouse have plenty of paper towels and cleaning products. All equipment is wiped down several times a day. They put up cardboard between us all so if some one was to cough they just remove it and replace it easily. We stopped having meetings, changed everyones in and out times among so much more. We also get paid personal leave on top of sick leave. Plus them stating we all could just stay home if we wanted. Remember the stimulus checks we all are getting is because of the people who are now out of a job. Amazon is keeping people jobs. Now of course I can only speak of my area and not others. I even shop at the whole foods and speak to them. They are happy about how things are going for them. Of course everyone is still worried but there is only so much we can do before we all just get the virus which is what is going to happen.
Is there a gofundme set up for Christian Smalls and the others who were fired today?
The funding should come from Jeff Bezos’ personal bank account. He is pocketing billions and still tries to squeeze work out of people with no benefits, while in general decimating jobs in the U.S. It is time for Jeff Bezos to give back. Make him a social pariah and pressure him to cough up.
I wonder what heath care workers should do then? From the floor staff to the physicians, demand more, take advantage, go on strike? We are low on Personal Protective Equipment, under constant stress, work in constant exposure, and not getting any extra pay or incentive. Maybe we should close for a while to until things get better to go home to families? Unfortunately we are all at risk and rely on each other. Our country needs us all working together right now and everyone doing their part. Using this as a labor dispute will only hurt more people and employee safety should always be a top priority. We will get through this.
@Don
The medical professionals have been asking over and over again for PPE and then they had to start to beg for it. This isn’t a time for rallying speeches and do for your country because the country just dropped the guillotine on these workers. They are only asking for equipment to protect themselves, who’s going to provide it if they’re left reusing contaminated gear? They are FED UP already, they needed help a week ago and you and everyone else knows the end is not in sight. Start putting pressure on your politicians and the government or tell them to get their faces in the front line so they can start fearing for their lives too! If anyone has masks or gloves at home that doesn’t need them or they’re hoarding or selling them, then you”re held accountable for ths situation too.
Not providing proper equipment protecting workers.Thus putting Customer Recepiants of merchandise at Risk by Formite thus the purchased MERCHANDISE being the mode of transmission of VIRUS to contami action of everyone whom touches preparing and contact in transit of delivery of Merchandise to contaminate Consumer.
Health care workers knew they were signing up for a hazardous job and their pay reflects that… Amazon employees did not
NATIONWIDE STRIKE!!!
way to show your lack of concern about these employees who get paid bare minimum and make it all about yourself…. gotta agree with Just sayin- “Health care workers knew they were signing up for a hazardous job and their pay reflects that… Amazon employees did not”
Is there any law that says you cannot mask yourself? Take your health into your own hands! Shouldn’t be against company policy.
That isn’t nearly enough, to effectively avoid infection with Covid-45, and why should employees of the richest man on earth have to see to their own on-the-job welfare? In other words, WTH is wrong with you?
it should be the employer and employee sharing responsibility
I work for a major grocery chain and we are strictly forbidden to wear mask and gloves while on the floor so as to not “scare the customers”
No there is not and most of us at my amazon warehouse have been wearing them for month now. These people just want paid time off and to go after a big corporation. My warehouse has done nothing but try to protect us for over a month now. We have been offered so much more then other companies. Many companies which are laying people off. Amazon is still hiring. My warehouse even has mask coming but with the shortage it was put on hold because the mask are going to healthcare workers. Which is understandable. Heck we even have wash areas outside the warehouse now. Among so much more.
I sell on Amazon for many years and us small sellers are subject to continuous abuse from Amazon. Whenever I sell an item, it takes 3 weeks for me to get my money from Amazon while Amazon earns interest on the money.
The CEO of amazon is a multi billionaire and it will take him several lifetimes to spend his money yet he doesn’t give a damn about anyone. I buy Nothing from Whole Foods since Amazon bought it and buy nothing from Amazon itself. I F…ing HATE Amazon and its CEO.
I think he is a VILE person and should be Castrated and hung to bleed to death.
You make no sense, you hate Amazon and everything around it BUT YOU SELL ON AMAZON AND BENEFIT IN SOME WAY FROM IT SMDH!!!!!!! LOL???
We really do need to get out there and start making the rich pay
I have to say that Charter TWC Spectrum is amazing to work for they really take care of us. Jeff Bezos should be contributing his wharehouses to produce or transfer or hold these items personnel and healthcare workers need to help in this national crisis. He should be offering his services, spaces, equipment, facilities, expertise, engineers, and money to help the nation that made him. ONLY IN AMERICA.
Wow you’re absolutely correct….now I’m thinking “WHY HASNT he? “
Yep, this is as a result of the generous, loving policies of the liberal leftie Bezos.
Stan, you simple dolt. That’s entirely wrong, and no one believes your ignorance. So pathetic.
Thee’s an employee at the South Boston Whole Foods that openly posted 2-3 days ago on her Facebook about how she “can’t help” touching her face, “doesn’t want” to wear gloves and has no intention of doing so at her register, and doesn’t wear hand sanitizer as it “makes her hands hurt” and that she has no intentions of changing her behavior. Other employees and even some of her friends brought up her post to management and corporate and got canned or no responses. I’m surprised MORE people aren’t getting sick working at Amazon and Whole Foods.
I don’t understand why anyone with any sense would buy anything from Amazon or entities like it. It’s mostly cheaply made useless junk anyway. It’s very simple, buy local. If they don’t have it you probably don’t need it. You’ll find that when you get your wants and needs separated you’ll stop making A-holes like Bezos rich.
Sorry…the locals are buying from here and outsiders also. I have seen this first hand!!!
There are many disabled in America who cannot go shopping for themselves. Unfortunately Bezos has taken advantage of that and has gotten rich off of others problems. I myself could not find a knee scooter in my city for less than $1,000. I had to go to amazon to get one for less than $200 when I broke my foot. And my tailbone at the same time. A knee scooter was a necessity that was not covered under insurance and was too expensive otherwise.
Amazon just fired Smalls for the strike.
My Heart goes out to all those working in the Health Care Field and everywhere else to help the US and Canada and the world recover. My heart also goes out to Amazon employees and everyone else who is underpaid and over worked. I was once an Amazon customer. After becoming aware of the way they bypass labour rights, OH&S, etc, lack of paid sick leave, no heart basically I find I need to voice my strong objection by alerting others of these conditions! May you be safe and healthy. Hugs from a distance. 🙂
How are these people able to be tested? Around here you must have 104+ fever and pneumonia before they will test you.
NATIONWIDE STRIKE!!! Also for a decent living wage!!!
How do you spell Venezuela?
If the virus lives on cardboard for 3-4 days or more. Why would health department allow any shipping with disinfectant first?
i saw the news story about Smalls and the satrike of Amazon warehouse and he was the one employee who tested positive and kept coming to the warehouse meeting with employee about the strike. so for endangering other employees health he was terminated.