Amazon workers in south metro Atlanta have filed federal complaints against the online shopping giant over workplace safety hazards.
Warehouse workers say they are exposed to hazards like temperatures toppling over 100 degrees during peak summer months.
Lawmakers and labor advocates, such as United for Respect, joined employees at Amazon’s ATL6 facility in East Point on Wednesday.
According to United for Respect, six ATL6 workers have filed federal unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
Darryl Prewitt has worked there for almost five years and said some coworkers even fear losing their jobs over a water break.
“If you’re not like me and you don’t bring your own water to work, and let’s say I decide to go over there to get some water because I’m thirsty, that’s a problem because you what they call time off task,” Prewitt said.
He said he wants these issues resolved without union interference.
“We don’t think that it’s necessary for us to have a union when we have enough power within ourselves and with United for respect, guiding us,” Prewitt said.
“We have people that every day come to work. They are under surveillance. They are not allowed to take breaks,” said Sandra Lee Williams, president of the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council. “Georgia always touts this place as being the best for businesses.”
“You know what? It may be, but it’s not the best for work,” Williams added. “We have to have workers make a living with dignity and respect.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has an open inspection at the Amazon location at East Point, Georgia, which was opened in mid-July.
“You can ask Bezos if he would work under these conditions. No, he would not. Would he go through what these workers are going through? No, he would not,” said Georgia State House Representative Dewey McClain.
Eileen Hards, an Amazon spokesperson, wrote in a statement that the company’s top priority is the health and safety of its employees, adding that the recordable injury rate is below the industry average for a company of Amazon’s size. Hards added that claims made in the unfair labor practice charges do not have any merit.
“In terms of heat-related safety protocols, ours often exceed industry standards, and we’re one of only a few companies to have air conditioning at our fulfillment centers and air hubs,” Hards wrote. “This in addition to industrial fans on our ceilings to keep air flowing, employee training about preventing heat-related illness, encouraging everyone to take cool-down rest breaks anytime they need one.”
Last year, a federal investigation cited the company for failing to keep workers safe at multiple U.S. warehouse facilities.
