Today is Black Friday, where retail, transport and distribution centre workers will be put under extreme pressure to work as fast as they can, especially in multinational companies like Amazon, who took home over $30 billion in profits last year.
Friday 29 November is international “Make Amazon Pay Day”, where workers will take action against the company across the world.
The SDA and the Transport Workers’ Union will assemble outside Amazon’s Distribution Centre in Lytton to protest their abysmal safety record, before entering the site to carry out surveying of Amazon staff.
Amazon have a poor health and safety record, including:
- Constant surveillance of staff.
- Pressure to work to a high performance standard.
- Constant pressure to work harder and to work faster.
- High workloads and stress.
In Australia, we have decent workplace health and safety laws. We don’t need Amazon or any other employer importing lower safety standards from United States or elsewhere.
Quotes attributable to Justin Power, the SDA Qld. Branch Secretary:
“Amazon has had a poor health and safety record in its Distribution Centres with its employees experiencing high workloads and high stress levels. We are here to test, whether that is still true in their biggest Qld DC. Amazon is a very successful business, but it is still one that relies on the hard work of people, and those people deserve to work in an environment and at a pace that is safe.”
Quotes attributable to Josh Millroy, TWU Qld. Director of Organising:
“Amazon’s shocking standards have set off a devastating domino effect across the transport supply chain. They have created a race to the bottom with driver safety and conditions on the chopping block”
“The company has also consistently sought to limit the ability of trade unions to operate. You only do that when you’re trying to force down wages, conditions, and safety. Australia is built on a Union culture of safe workplaces. The TWU and SDA won’t let Amazon undermine that.”