Workers in Bessemer, Alabama, USA, where the incident took place, spoke with the worker right organisation More Perfect Union claimed that six people have died at the facility in 2021 and have accused Amazon of trying to cover up the incidents.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the claims were lies.
“These claims are just false and it’s really disappointing that anyone would spread misinformation about something like this to try and advance their own agenda,” she said in a statement to The Independent.
More Perfect Union shared a video interview with Amazon day-shift worker Isaiah Thomas, who claimed that one of the individuals who “died on the job” was denied sick leave before suffering a fatal stroke.
Both workers claimed that Amazon managers told the rest of the workers to continue working and not to speak about what happened. Mr Connelly said some of the workers who interacted regularly with the individual who died were upset by the death and wanted to go home, but were not allowed.
“There’s no shutdown, there’s no moment of silence, there’s no time to sit and have a prayer” Mr Connelly said. “You’re a body. Once that body’s used up, they’ll just bring somebody else in and do the work.”
They were at risk of being fired, Annie. One of the guys had a stroke because he said he felt unwell and wanted to go home (to his trailer) and he was denied.
Presumably this is more down to the draconian labour laws in the US. The type of workers rights that they would love to get rid of here. It’s a bit like that manic monday song. “I can’t be late because I just won’t get paid” etc. Hardly any holidays and unpaid sick leave. etc. Employers just have too many rights over there. Of course no NHS there either.
Because in the US, workers get a very limited amount of days off, and sadly this guy had run out of his days. So that’s the excuse Amazon gave…
Remember this is the same company who ordered their workers to get into work, despite the recent typhoons. Several Amazon workers died as a result, because they were told to ignore the weather warnings.
Yes…it makes you wonder what kind of stuff they are passing through on the sly, and then suddenly (when all this is over) we will wake up one morning to find that…actually, what we once knew, is no longer the case
Oh quite possibly yes. Its not right though is it? I mean…these amazon workers have been trying to get a union going forever and it keeps getting outvoted - which I’m curious why. Is it a fear (again) of losing their jobs? Nobody wants to speak out against the company?
Some basic rights when it comes to health, shouldn’t be a luxury. Dying at work because you can’t get home/get healthcare is awful.
Workers at the warehouse attempted to unionise in April, but their efforts were ultimately defeated. Workers voted 1798 against a union against the 738 who voted for one.
As long as they vote against having a Union their conditions won’t improve.
