Amazon has fired a New York warehouse worker who organised a protest over the safety precautions taken by the firm to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
The fight comes as pressure builds on Amazon, and other delivery firms, to improve protection for workers worried about getting infected with the virus.
The firing of the worker prompted a rebuke by the state’s attorney general, who called for an investigation into whether it violated worker rights.
Amazon defended the action.
It said the worker, Christian Smalls, had received a warning about social distancing rules and was supposed to stay home after coming in contact with an infected colleague.
“Despite that instruction to stay home with pay, he came onsite … further putting the teams at risk,” a spokesperson said, adding that just 15 of the more than 5,000 people who work at the New York facility participated in the protest.
‘Immoral and inhumane’
New York state’s attorney general, Letitia James, said her office was considering “all legal options” regarding Mr Smalls’ firing.
“It is disgraceful that Amazon would terminate an employee who bravely stood up to protect himself and his colleagues,” she said. “At a time when so many New Yorkers are struggling and are deeply concerned about their safety, this action was also immoral and inhumane.”
Amazon’s practices are under scrutiny, as the number of reported coronavirus cases at its facilities increases, while demand for its services booms due to lockdowns across the world.
A group of workers at the Whole Foods supermarket chain, which is owned by Amazon, planned to walk out on Tuesday. Amazon also faced earlier strikes from workers in France and Italy and has been hit by legal complaints over safety concerns in Spain, according to a global alliance of unions coordinated by UNI Global Union.
US lawmakers have also written to Amazon boss Jeff Bezos to express concerns over shortages of protective and cleaning supplies, as well as its sick leave policies,
Amazon has said it is taking extra precautions, including increased cleaning of its facilities and introducing staggered shift and break times to reduce staff contact.
The company, which is looking to hire 100,000 more warehouse workers in the US to help address the surge in orders, has also said it would boost pay for warehouse staff around the world, including by $2 per hour in the US and by £2 per hour in the UK, where staff have been told to work overtime.
In Italy, the company said it had reduced deliveries since 22 March. However, union leaders say workers need access to better protection.
“Several employees working at the site use face masks for days instead of having new ones each day,” one union representative told Reuters.