Reports say Amazon denied sick leave to workers who later died on the job

Edited by Ed Newman
2021-12-24 22:44:58

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Two Amazon workers at a plant in the U.S. state of Alabama reportedly died last month within hours of each other, with one passing away at the facility and another after receiving medical attention. ​

Bessemer, December 25 (RHC)-- Two Amazon workers at a plant in the U.S. state of Alabama reportedly died last month within hours of each other, with one passing away at the facility and another after receiving medical attention. 

Isaiah Thomas, an Amazon employee, said that one of the victims suffered a stroke and “died on the job” after asking Human Resources if he could go home.  According to claims made in an interview published by More Perfect Union, the worker who later died was told that he could “either go home and lose your job” or “stay here and keep working.”

According to fellow Amazon workers, the man who suffered a stroke died inside a trailer. It took around 20 minutes for his body to be found.  

Despite the fatalities, More Perfect Union claims that their co-workers were told to carry on working, as usual, raising concerns about Amazon’s treatment of employees.  “They actually come around and tell people not to talk about it, and go back to work,” one worker, Perry Connelly, told reporters.

Workers at the Bessemer warehouse attempted to unionize earlier this year over allegations of dangerous working conditions but were defeated by 1798 votes to 738.  The National Labor Relations Board later found out Amazon had illegally interfered in the union vote and ordered a revote on November 29.

Alongside the claims made about the deaths of the two workers, More Perfect Union alleged that six people had died at the facility in 2021 alone, and accused Amazon of trying to cover up the situation. The workers’ rights group stated that it had voiced its claims to Amazon, but said the e-commerce giant did not respond to its requests.   Amazon has not publicly responded to the allegations.



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