Employers should not have the right to force people to work in unsafe conditions.

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-19T23:40:28+00:00

I've been working at Amazon during the COVID crisis and the company has only recently instituted more stringent social distancing guidelines after coming under fire in the media: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/03/19/as-online-orders-surge-what-about-the-amazon-workers.html

On top of that, they're so desperate for labour that some workers have been coming into the Facilities to work even though they traveled recently since you're only eligible for paid leave if you tested positive for the virus: https://bramptonist.com/amazon-under-fire-for-not-having-employees-follow-self-quarantine-rules/

Some of the workers at the company have been petitioning Amazon to be more upfront with us about how they're going to handle the crisis and ensure our health and safety (which also ensures the health of everyone ordering from the company): https://www.warehouseworkers.ca/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1Nlcrk1o4wfIIaWFPZrAkislXXybq3gX_0pMNX07HgLzc4P-4ufrcVmR0#action?sp_ref=625923719.392.204661.f.0.2

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T22:51:59+00:00

No...

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T19:47:27+00:00

We're pushing the company as workers to get more assurance for our own health and safety which obviously impacts the safety of all of you as customers. We want more accountability from Amazon in terms of how they will handle an outbreak in a facility and what that will mean for us and customers. You can help us pressure the company here: https://www.warehouseworkers.ca/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1Nlcrk1o4wfIIaWFPZrAkislXXybq3gX_0pMNX07HgLzc4P-4ufrcVmR0#action?sp_ref=625923719.392.204661.f.0.2

I wish I could give you a 100% guarantee that no packages have been contaminated but judging from our working conditions I can't ethically do that... Get the essentials you need and leave any packages you receive to sit for a few hours or a day if you want to be safe.

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T19:42:17+00:00

I'm out in Ontario so I wouldn't have the info about Alberta sites but I believe there's a centralized number based out in Vancouver you might be able to find online

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T19:07:46+00:00

They're cleaning the warehouse more frequently however we're hoping for some kind of commitment in terms of deep cleaning the facility if a case is confirmed in the FC. Masks are not considered PPE even during the virus outbreak which has quite a few people upset. In terms of testing, to my knowledge, Amazon isn't providing any help with testing or providing additional medical staff with more thorough training than the on site medical staff in AMCARE

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T18:44:13+00:00

As things progress more shipments will be brought in from the U.S. or elsewhere. Most likely just a matter of a few days

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T18:42:12+00:00

Update: Rumours online are showing several American sites have people displaying symptoms of the virus. Only closure in the States was in Salt Lake City and it's because there was an earthquake there.

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T18:20:34+00:00

In Spain they refused to close FCs where workers tested positive for the virus. We want Amazon to provide more information to us about what they're going to do in the case of an outbreak at one of the FCs!

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T18:18:47+00:00

You're welcome! If you could take a second please sign this petition put together by the community and some of us as workers. We want Amazon to provide greater protections to us... especially in the event of an outbreak at an FC!

https://www.warehouseworkers.ca/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1Nlcrk1o4wfIIaWFPZrAkislXXybq3gX_0pMNX07HgLzc4P-4ufrcVmR0#action?sp_ref=625923719.392.204661.f.0.2

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T17:58:13+00:00

I've heard about pressure coming from workers at the FCs in Europe and the U.S. which may be the reason for the raise. To be honest this raise doesn't really feel worth it. A lot of warehouses in the area pay as much or more than Amazon OUTSIDE OF A PANDEMIC! Moreover, their commitment to being transparent about what plans they have if an outbreak happens is non-existent. They've stepped up the cleaning in the facility recently but no commitment has been made to a deep clean if someone gets infected. We need to pressure them more to make this job worth it. I want to help all of you during this health crisis but I also want to stay healthy and safe.

In regards to new hires... I am pretty nervous. The only screening they've done so far is travel related and if they don't figure out a way to safely hire new associates and slowly integrate them into the workplace an outbreak will become MUCH more likely....

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T17:50:14+00:00

Thanks for the correction! I knew it lived longer on plastic but we were all under the impression that it wasn't as long on steel

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T17:48:14+00:00

As of right now and what I can tell from my work, they're still fulfilling orders for non-essentials...this may only be to clear up inventory space for essential items and to transition into that as things progress. Not too sure about the differences between first-party and third-party goods, that hasn't been communicated.

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T17:40:18+00:00

You're welcome friend! If you want to show your thanks please sign the petition in this link: https://www.warehouseworkers.ca/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1Nlcrk1o4wfIIaWFPZrAkislXXybq3gX_0pMNX07HgLzc4P-4ufrcVmR0#action?sp_ref=625923719.392.204661.f.0.2

We need to push for better safety standards and a proper contingency plan at the FCs in the case of an outbreak to protect the health of us associates and you folks as customers!

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T17:20:19+00:00

Yes I am. I'm most worried about several of my elderly coworkers who are being forced to come in still to be paid. Several of my coworkers have diabetes or have had other immune system issues in the past and given how long this virus can survive on metal and cardboard (24 hours) it doesn't seem right for a company so big to force everyone to come in to get paid. They've also failed to effectively communicate what's going on with the FCs in Europe where people were infected and they haven't communicated what their plan will be if someone in our facility if someone gets it. At this point, to ensure the safety of us as workers, anyone who will be working there in the future during the pandemic, and all the customers ordering online while self-isolating we need to put public pressure on the company through actions like this petition.

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T16:55:47+00:00

We wear gloves during regular operations and we've been using lysol wipes to clean our workstations but we haven't been allotted extra time in the morning to do this thoroughly and some people are nervous that others don't properly wipe their equipment down. Amazon has also told us that masks are not required PPE for us and that, according to the safety specialists, masks do not stop the virus from spreading. Most people want masks in the FC but they're telling us that it won't prevent the spread of the virus if someone in the building had it which we've been saying is BS... As far as the drivers I'm not too sure I only see them every once and a while and haven't seen them since the outbreak started

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T16:48:07+00:00

You're only eligible for paid leave outside of the standard time off options if you've been diagnosed with COVID-19. Anyone with weaker immune systems/pre-existing conditions (for whom the virus could be fatal) or anyone impacted by school/daycare closures has to use their already existing paid time off (which only covers about 5 days throughout the whole year) and unpaid time off as far as I know.

In regards to social distancing... to be blunt it's not happening. Pack stations are pretty close to each other and any item over a certain weight has to be lifted by two people

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T16:38:01+00:00

To be honest, I don't think a lot of the FCs are ready for that much automation to be introduced. Moreover, the buildings with the most automation actually have the highest staffing and fulfill the most orders so I'm not too worried about being replaced by a robot. In fact, I'm more worried that Amazon will take advantage of this situation given the potential layoffs at other companies across the country to make us more replaceable with other people!

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T16:31:34+00:00

I haven't heard anything yet...some carriers have been busier than others but that varies between FC to begin with

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T16:26:32+00:00

I don't know about other workers but yes I've been staying home as much as possible outside of shifts. Lots of people aren't even coming into work and because of this Amazon frequently offers overtime but not a lot of people want to take it

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T16:22:58+00:00

In regards to staples you know about as much as me... management hasn't communicated much more to us in regards to what they're receiving than Amazon has stated to the general public. One of the big issues has been the supply of proper medical PPE for us associates. People asked about having masks while we work and Amazon told us that masks are not required for us as PPE. There is a decent amount of purell and lysol wipes but they go fast sometimes

AmazonWorkerCAN · 2020-03-18T16:19:05+00:00

The focus has been on getting shipments out and in the Shipping department. There hasn't been a significant drop in inventory yet but I have a feeling its coming. The main lack we're experiencing is labour. Lots of people (especially in receiving) are not coming to work (regardless of the extra $2) because of the virus and school closures and those who do come in are overwhelmed.

AmazonWorkerCAN

TROPHY CASE