Amazon defended its coronavirus security policies as New York workers prepare to take it to court.
Their requests include extra time to wash their hands, which Amazon says it told workers that they could have had in March.
Derrick Palmer, one of those who sued, said he was unaware of this policy change until this week when, Amazon says, he sent an email to "clarify" the change to Staten Island workers.
Amazon said it did not comment on the pending lawsuits.
Dismissal
In May, an employee of the Staten Island warehouse died with Covid-19 and others fell ill.
And the workers, supported by the Make the Road, Towards Justice and Public Justice defense groups, are calling for a series of urgent changes, including:
- a more transparent leave policy that encourages workers to stay home in accordance with state or federal public health guidelines
- immediate payment for quarantine leave
- an increase in the "free time allowance" (TOT) so that workers can wash their hands or clean their workstations
Leisure time deducts points for lack of productivity.
And if employees fail to meet productivity quotas, they can face layoffs.
But, according to Bloomberg, Amazon's attorneys said his policy was changed in March to clarify that hand washing will not be counted as a TOT during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Dangerous" policies
Earlier in the case, Frank Kearl, a lawyer representing workers, said the staff felt "extraordinary pressure to come to work even when they might be ill and to work at a breakneck pace even when it means not going to the bathroom for engage in basic hygiene. "
And legal action related to Amazon's "oppressive and dangerous" policies has increased the risk of spreading the virus among workers.
In response, Amazon said it had made more than 150 changes to its working practices spent more than $ 800 million (£ 638 million) in measures to ensure that its warehouses are secure, including:
- safety equipment
- Thermal imaging cameras
- a track-and-trace system for workers who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus
The case will be closely followed by unions and others eager to see changes in working conditions in Amazon warehouses, where demand has increased as more people turn to online shopping.
And Amazon previously accused workers of attempting to "exploit the pandemic".
