Amazon suspends Staten Island workers who organized an impromptu strike
Amazon responded quickly to the impromptu strike at its unionized Staten Island warehouse. The company and workers confirmed to CNN that approximately 50 workers were suspended with pay at JFK8 after occupying the human resources office and refusing to work under allegedly unsafe conditions following a fire on a ship's dock. One of the workers, Connor Spence, said the suspension will continue while Amazon investigates the work stoppage.
We have requested a review from Amazon. In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson said there had been a "small fire" in a cardboard compactor and he had asked night shift workers (including those at the event) to report for their regular shifts after the fire department. said the warehouse was safe. The "vast majority" of workers have complied, Amazon said. Day shift members were sent home with pay.
The suspensions won't help ease the dispute between Amazon and workers at JFK8, the company's only unionized warehouse. In May, Amazon fired several top executives in a move employees said was retaliation for the organization's labor efforts. There are also wider tensions in the company. Staff at several US warehouses have pushed for unionization (albeit with limited success), while Amazon has been accused of using union-busting tactics.
Affected staff members will not necessarily lose their jobs. However, it signals that Amazon is unwilling to tolerate labor disruptions, even in the presence of a union.
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Amazon responded quickly to the impromptu strike at its unionized Staten Island warehouse. The company and workers confirmed to CNN that approximately 50 workers were suspended with pay at JFK8 after occupying the human resources office and refusing to work under allegedly unsafe conditions following a fire on a ship's dock. One of the workers, Connor Spence, said the suspension will continue while Amazon investigates the work stoppage.
We have requested a review from Amazon. In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson said there had been a "small fire" in a cardboard compactor and he had asked night shift workers (including those at the event) to report for their regular shifts after the fire department. said the warehouse was safe. The "vast majority" of workers have complied, Amazon said. Day shift members were sent home with pay.
The suspensions won't help ease the dispute between Amazon and workers at JFK8, the company's only unionized warehouse. In May, Amazon fired several top executives in a move employees said was retaliation for the organization's labor efforts. There are also wider tensions in the company. Staff at several US warehouses have pushed for unionization (albeit with limited success), while Amazon has been accused of using union-busting tactics.
Affected staff members will not necessarily lose their jobs. However, it signals that Amazon is unwilling to tolerate labor disruptions, even in the presence of a union.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
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