Jeff Bezos must show some empathy and make sure it is not a Black Friday for Amazon workers says GMB Union
GMB is staging Black Friday and Cyber Monday protests across the North West in anger at the ‘appalling’ treatment of workers.
The demos will take place outside Amazon warehouses in Bolton on Friday morning and Warrington on Monday afternoon.
Amazon workers in fulfilment centres are breaking bones, being knocked unconscious and taken away in ambulances, while pregnant women workers report being treated appallingly.
GMB investigations into Amazon working practices have revealed more than 600 ambulance call outs to Amazon warehouses over a three year period.
More than 600 serious incidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive for injuries including fractures, head injuries, contusions and collisions with heavy equipment
GMB members report targets being so horrific they have to use plastic bottles to urinate in instead of going to the toilet, and pregnant women have been forced to stand for hours on end
At least one pregnant woman reporting losing a pregnancy at work, saying an ambulance was not called, and she went home on the bus, with her co-workers in blood stained clothes
• 87% of Amazon workers responding to that survey said that were in some form of constant pain in their body joints.
Mick Rix, GMB National Officer, said:
“GMB is staging protests at various Amazon sites across the North West on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
“The conditions our members work under at various Amazon sites are appalling.
“Workers are breaking bones, being knocked unconscious and being taken away in ambulances.
“Amazon has spent a fortune on fluffy adverts saying what a great place it is to work. Why not spend the money making their warehouses less dangerous places to work?
“Amazon workers want Jeff Bezos to know they are people – not robots.
“It’s about time Mr Bezos showed empathy with the very people that have helped build his vast empire and make sure it is not a Black Friday for Amazon workers.”
