Coronavirus Updates: Amazon Warehouse Workers Might Walk Off The Job Tuesday
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Amazon warehouse workers across the country might walk off the job Tuesday in protest for safer working conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
CNN is reporting that hundreds of warehouse workers are planning to call off work until the internet giant does more to protect workers from the novel coronavirus.
According to a workers rights group, some employees at the Shakopee warehouse are planning to take part in the walk-out.
Recently, Amazon has said that it has taken steps to improve worker safety, such as supplying masks, hiring more people and increasing pay.
Over the last several weeks, some Democrats, including Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, have called on Amazon to do more to protect workers, as the company has seen a surge in demand as people are not leaving their homes due to stay-at-home orders across the country.
Amazon released the following statement in response to the Tuesday plans:
"Reports of employee participation in today's event organized by labor unions are grossly exaggerated. Already more than 250,000 people have come to work today, even more than last week, to serve their communities. We couldn't be more grateful and proud for their efforts during this time. The union organizers' claims are also simply false – what's true is that masks, temperature checks, hand sanitizer, increased time off, increased pay, and more are standard across our network because we care deeply about the health and safety of our employees. We encourage anyone to compare the health and safety measures Amazon has taken, and the speed of their implementation, during this crisis with other retailers."