GMB has called for a Parliamentary inquiry into ‘dehumanising’
working conditions at Amazon warehouse as the company enjoys
mammoth Black Friday sales.
The union has projected a huge ‘Make Amazon Pay’ banner on the
online giant’s London HQ as part of the Black Friday protests.
GMB has now joined a global coalition including Amnesty
International, Oxfam and War On Want [1] aiming to curb the
firm’s ‘monstrous ‘power.
An investigation by GMB earlier this year revealed ambulances
were called out to Amazon warehouses 600 times during just three
financial years, [2] while 602 serious injuries and near misses
were reported at Amazon warehouses to the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE). [3]
Meanwhile GMB members working in Amazon warehouses report working
in constant agony, not having time to go to the toilet and a
heavily pregnant woman being forced to work standing. [4]
Mick Rix, GMB National Officer, said:
"Amazon is well known for unsafe, dehumanising work practices
which see our members break bones, fall unconscious and have to
be taken away in ambulances.
“They pay a pittance in tax while taking millions from the
taxpayer in lucrative Government contracts.
“Now, during a pandemic which has made the world’s richest man
even more money, they’ve been packing workers into warehouses
like sardines in a tin.
“Enough is enough. It’s time to curb the power of this monstrous
company. It is high time this Government heeded the growing
chorus and held a parliamentary enquiry into Amazon’s
activities.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
[1] Organisations include Amnesty International, Oxfam and War On
Want, 350.0rg, Progressive International, global trade unions
UniGlobal, International Transport Workers Federation and trade
unions from the Global Amazon Alliance. The coalition includes an
global social and environmental organisations, NGO's and UK
politicians.
[2] http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/amazon-ambulance-callouts
[3] http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/600-amazon-incidents
[4] Testimony from GMB members:
“The methods employed by Amazon to have total mind and body
control over their associates … [it] reminds me of days about
which I have read in the Great Depression where men would stand
at the factory gate in the hope of being selected for a day’s
labour.”
“I told them I could not walk so many miles and I could not pick
from low locations. I had a meeting with a safety manager and was
also told: ‘It’s not what you want, it is what we decide’. My
manager told me that most women are working on picking until
their maternity leave. I know this is true because I saw ladies
with huge bumps picking.”
“I am pregnant and they put me to stand 10 hours without a chair
… They are telling me to work hard even they know I am pregnant.
I am feeling depressed when I am at work.”
“It is an awful place to work, can't breath or voice an opinion,
feel like a trapped animal with lack of support and respect.”
“Dehumanising you are a number not a person if you have health
issues the Amazon way is to pay you off and replace you with
temporary workers with less terms and conditions.”
