Amazon drivers start their supply routes as employees at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York put together to stroll off their jobs demanding stepped-up safety and pay after a number of employees on the facility have been identified with COVID-19.
Paul Hennessy | Barcroft Media | Getty Photographs
Amazon issued an apology on Friday to Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., after mocking his declare that the corporate’s drivers are typically compelled to urinate in bottles throughout supply rounds because of the calls for of the job.
“We all know that drivers can and do have hassle discovering restrooms due to visitors or typically rural routes, and this has been particularly the case throughout Covid when many public restrooms have been closed,” the corporate wrote in a blog post.
The apology got here after the Democratic lawmaker final month condemned Amazon’s working circumstances and union-busting efforts. Roughly 5,800 employees at Amazon’s warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, are awaiting an upcoming union vote, which is about to start on Tuesday. Amazon has opposed the historic unionization effort, whereas Pocan is amongst legislators who help it.
“Paying employees $15/hr does not make you a ‘progressive office’ if you union-bust & make employees urinate in water bottles,” Pocan wrote within the March 24 tweet that set off the controversy.
Amazon responded by tweet: “You do not actually imagine the peeing in bottles factor, do you? If that have been true, no person would work for us. The reality is that we have now over 1,000,000 unimaginable workers around the globe who’re pleased with what they do, and have nice wages and well being care from day one.”
That change ignited a collection of criticisms and a story from the Intercept detailing how Amazon managers regularly voiced issues throughout conferences and in coverage paperwork and emails concerning the problem of employees urinating whereas on supply.
Amazon on Friday described its tweet as an “own-goal” as a result of it didn’t account for the corporate’s giant driver inhabitants and as an alternative targeted on its success facilities. The corporate additionally mentioned the tweet did not “obtain correct scrutiny” and was incorrect, acknowledging that drivers do have issue discovering restrooms.
“No matter the truth that that is industry-wide, we wish to clear up it,” the corporate mentioned. “We do not but understand how, however will search for options.”
WATCH: Vote count begins in Amazon’s potential months-long union fight
