I'm sure most of us shop on Amazon quite frequently, but little do we know, the working conditions in these warehouses are unimaginable. Amazon employee, Jennifer Bates, gives us a look into what it's like working in this environment. The second she Bates walks away from her post in the warehouse the time starts to run. With only 30 minutes to eat lunch, she has to walk across the warehouse “the size of 14 football fields” to get to the cafeteria. Bates has learned not to bring food from home because it would cost her precious time to just heat it up in the microwave. As a result, she has to buy a cold sandwich from the vending machine. If she is not back to her post on time, Amazon would cut her pay, or even fire her.
In an attempt to improve these working conditions, Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama are organizing the biggest unionization push since Amazon was founded. Labor unions are basically designed to protect the employer's rights and interests. We don't really see many labor unions in Florida, but they are more common up North. If these employees succeed in this unionization push, this could inspire other Amazon factories to do the same across the country. However, organizers are facing issues with the second largest employer in the country, Whole Foods. Whole Foods is crushing their unionization efforts, but these employees are still fighting. Employees in Bessemer are required to vote on the matter, and they need 6,000 “yes” votes in order to unionize. Mail-in voting started this week and ends in March, so we have to wait to see the results.
Of course, Amazon is trying to convince employees that unionizing will “only suck money from their paycheck with little benefit”, but this does not change those employees' views on unionizing. In the past, unionization efforts in Amazon have failed, but hopefully this time there will be a positive outcome. What are your thoughts on the Amazon working conditions? Does this change your view on Amazon, and would you support this unionization if you were an employee there?
https://apnews.com/article/amazon-workers-union-c8493c24dabe7609de8fec8716460737
Hi Diana, I didn't know about the working conditions of Amazon warehouse workers until I watched this documentary called "Amazon Empire" It was very eye opening and informative. It says a lot of the things that you said and also provides interviews with amazon workers and their firsthand experience. I think that it is important for them to demand healthy working conditions.
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