Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#1

Post by hhs » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 4:23 PM UTC

Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers
reuters.com

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#2

Post by rorykoehler » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 5:02 PM UTC

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

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#3

Post by xixixao » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 5:04 PM UTC

rorykoehler wrote: post #2

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

Has it? There’s probably a ton of people looking for this kind of job on the market.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#4

Post by TheAdamAndChe » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 5:04 PM UTC

rorykoehler wrote: post #2

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

I understand what you're saying, but walking out or forcing negotiations during a global pandemic is sociopathic, and the union would gather a massive amount of political venom.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#5

Post by golergka » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 5:05 PM UTC

rorykoehler wrote: post #2

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

Even for a typical right-winger like me (I'm actively fighting against unionization in my own profession) it makes total sense in context of warehouse workers and current events.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#6

Post by golergka » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 5:06 PM UTC

xixixao wrote: post #3

rorykoehler wrote: post #2

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

Has it? There’s probably a ton of people looking for this kind of job on the market.

How fast would they be able to hire and train replacements, and how much would it cost?

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#7

Post by pgt » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 5:06 PM UTC

TheAdamAndChe wrote: post #4

rorykoehler wrote: post #2

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

I understand what you're saying, but walking out or forcing negotiations during a global pandemic is sociopathic, and the union would gather a massive amount of political venom.

I would not be surprised if the pay increase is a preemptive move prevent unionization. But then again, could just be real increase in demand.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#8

Post by motbob » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 5:07 PM UTC

rorykoehler wrote: post #2

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

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

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#9

Post by krapp » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 5:07 PM UTC

rorykoehler wrote: post #2

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

The virus has given them no such thing. These are only temporary measures meant to stem attrition because Amazon set a policy of unlimited UPT until the end of the month for anyone sick... as soon as that's no longer necessary, there will be mass layoffs and pay cuts across the board.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#10

Post by tcbawo » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 5:09 PM UTC

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 depriving the hospital system. Also, we need more corporations in America to step up and set an example, protecting their workers and customers. People should stay home, but when they have to venture out (or are needed for work), they should be wearing masks!