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Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

reuters.com

21–30 of 237 posts

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#21
Glad to see this from Amazon, although I see it heading off the inevitable. Wouldn't this be the most powerful moment for employees in 'essential' services to engage in worker strikes? Is there any legal precedent for what governments would do?

With all this war rhetoric thrown around, it seems a reasonable jump to declare essential workers troops on the frontline deserving of what we give other troops (free health care, pension, heavily subsidized secondary education)

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#22
post #12
post #10

If Amazon wanted to win immediate trust and lasting goodwill, they should secure suppliers for "Amazon's choice" cotton surgical masks, providing priority service to hospital systems in regions of need, but also (publicly), their own warehouse and delivery workforce. They have the leverage, analytics, and supply chain to make it happen. Edit: We need to provide enough masks so that people don't feel like they are dep…

I'm pretty sure cotton masks offer little to no protection. What you need is a n95 respirator.

What hospitals need are N95 respirators and surgical masks. A family member of mine is a doctor at a large hospital system. They have a mask shortage and have been encouraged to use scarves and t-shirts if necessary. Plain cotton masks would offer considerable benefits if everybody began wearing them in public. Countries in Asia, where it is common for everyone to wear masks have a lower R0 value.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#23
post #16

One of the Danish consumer NGOs called tænk recently tested the security of things bought off amazon, wish and other online retailers. More than half of the smoke alarms bought on amazon didn’t work. Around half of the baby toys didn’t meet choking hazard safety. Not sure why anyone still buys things from there. Or anywhere online really, all the other retailers failed as well.

Due to isolation I ordered from them for the first time in a very long time. I'm blown away by how much garbage is on there now. Or was it always there? I'm glad I could stay inside but I really need to find something better.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#24
post #16

One of the Danish consumer NGOs called tænk recently tested the security of things bought off amazon, wish and other online retailers. More than half of the smoke alarms bought on amazon didn’t work. Around half of the baby toys didn’t meet choking hazard safety. Not sure why anyone still buys things from there. Or anywhere online really, all the other retailers failed as well.

> More than half of the smoke alarms bought on amazon didn’t work. Around half of the baby toys didn’t meet choking hazard safety.

This is a manufacturer issue. This has nothing to do with Amazon.

> Not sure why anyone still buys things from there. Or anywhere online really, all the other retailers failed as well.

This is just a blanket statement that is completely wrong. Amazon sells all sorts of reputable supplies and toys for babies. Name a reputable company. I'm sure they have an online store.

Edit: This whole situation is going to drive even more shopping online and especially to Amazon. The elderly are getting on board.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#25
post #21

Glad to see this from Amazon, although I see it heading off the inevitable. Wouldn't this be the most powerful moment for employees in 'essential' services to engage in worker strikes? Is there any legal precedent for what governments would do? With all this war rhetoric thrown around, it seems a reasonable jump to declare essential workers troops on the frontline deserving of what we give other troops (free health c…

> Is there any legal precedent for what governments would do?

There is a long history of the government using the military to break strikes and fill the labor gap for things deemed necessary for national security. I'm not sure Amazon warehouses are in the same class as coal mines though...

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#26
post #11

Amazon workers should unionize immediately now that the virus has given them leverage.

People are getting laid off from every other job left and right I would be surprised if they have the leverage you think they do. The increase in pay for people working through this is to compensate for the perceived risk of getting sick which is different than a shortage of workers. When you have record numbers of people applying for unemployment you can certainly replace striking workers quickly and with the curren…

Who is your public in this conception? Most people in the US works jobs closer to Amazon warehouse workers and don’t want to see they’re loved ones made sick or injured so upper middle class people can hoard prime deliveries.

The UAW was pushing for factories to shutdown out of concern for worker safety in Michigan before they decided to, they were applauded for doing so by the governor, and none of my family there thinks they were in the wrong.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#27
post #21

Glad to see this from Amazon, although I see it heading off the inevitable. Wouldn't this be the most powerful moment for employees in 'essential' services to engage in worker strikes? Is there any legal precedent for what governments would do? With all this war rhetoric thrown around, it seems a reasonable jump to declare essential workers troops on the frontline deserving of what we give other troops (free health c…

With how 9/11 first responders were treated, or how veterans are treated now, don't count on the US making good on any promises it makes to its heroes. There is tons of hero worship and thumping of patriotic chests, but tangible actions typically fall well short of the level of care you'd expect. Lots of talking the talk, but not walking the walk.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#28
post #13
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The virus, in some ways, has given them the opposite of leverage. The labor market is and will be flooded with laid off workers.

Then again, lots of laid off workers (like me) come from other unions. What better way to unionize a workplace than by flooding it with union workers from other industries?

Ex-union workers aren’t a protected class in the US and there is often discrimination.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#29
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The virus, in some ways, has given them the opposite of leverage. The labor market is and will be flooded with laid off workers.

That’s why it’s actually important to unionize in the very near term. Amazon can’t replace all of their workers if they unionize right away and the union leverage can guarantee safer working conditions for all the new hires.

it's a tricky time for both sides. imagine the optics of actually striking during the current crisis. not sure whether amazon or the union would come out looking worse, but it would be a big hit to both.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#30
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The virus, in some ways, has given them the opposite of leverage. The labor market is and will be flooded with laid off workers.

That’s why it’s actually important to unionize in the very near term. Amazon can’t replace all of their workers if they unionize right away and the union leverage can guarantee safer working conditions for all the new hires.

> Amazon can’t replace all of their workers if they unionize right away

I bet they could.

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