Amazon Workers Walk Off Job, Say the Company Cut Break Times Because the Pandemic Is 'Supposedly' OverDozens of employees at two Chicago-area facilities ditched work during the final stretch of holiday deliveries.
ByAmanda Breen•
Dozens of Amazon employees at two Chicago-area facilities walked off the job during the final stretch of holiday deliveries on Wednesday, citing the company's shortened break times and unwillingness to increase wages,业务Insiderreports．
The walkouts took place at Amazon's delivery centers in Gage Park and Cicero, according to theChicago Tribune．Avideofrom Amazonians United Chicagoland, a group representing local Amazon workers, was posted to Facebook, explaining the demands.
"We're here demanding a $5 increase for our wages, and as well, a return to the 20-minute breaks that we had during the pandemic," said a worker. According to the same employee, Amazon had cut five minutes from their break time because the pandemic was "supposedly" over despite confirmation of three new cases the day before.
Related:Amazon Workers in New York City Target a Union Vote
Amazon has said it will not retaliate against workers who took part in the protest. "We respect the rights of employees to protest and recognize their legal right to do so," Amazon spokesman Richard Rocha toldInsider．“我们很自豪能提供员工主要支付,有限公司mpetitive benefits, and the opportunity to grow with our company."
According to the company, starting wages at the two Chicago-area facilities are approximately $16 an hour.
Amazon has beenaccused of permitting dangerous working conditionsduring the pandemic andunderreporting the number of positive Covid casesamong its employees. The company also made headlines recently when atornado struck its Edwardsville, Illinois facility, leaving six Amazon workers dead. Just before the tornado hit,an Amazon driver was told by a supervisor to continue delivering packagesduring the life-threatening storm or risk losing her job.
