- Distributing masks and controlling employee temperatures is what Amazon promises to respond to criticism of keeping the business going during containment.
- The labor inspectorate had estimated that the group had not put in place the conditions necessary to avoid a "dangerous situation", in particular on a site in the North.
- "A good initiative," judges a union source, who explains, however, that certain commitments had not been kept by the company.
Masks for the approximately 13,000 French employees and temperature control: the American giant of online commerce, Amazon, reacted Friday to the discontent of the trade union organizations, without calming all the worries faced with the epidemic of Covid-19.
"We are even going further than what the government requests": this Friday at the microphone of RTL, the general manager of Amazon France hammered his message. “We have applied all the recommendations made by the government from the start very strictly and gradually as they appear. "
"Dangerous situation" denounced by the Direccte
In addition, "from today, in all Amazon France buildings, employees will be equipped with masks at their request," he said. In addition, "from Monday, we will have a temperature control by thermal camera at the entrance of the sites in France".
In fact, without going so far as to demand such measures, the labor inspectorate considers for the time being that the group has not put in place the conditions necessary to avoid a "dangerous situation" on one of its French sites.
In a letter dated Friday, the Director believes that the employees of Lauwin-Planque (North) are not able, among other things, to wash their hands regularly or to avoid being too close. It gives notice to Amazon to establish sufficient conditions.
"Announcement effects"
On the part of Amazon, "there are many effects of announcements", regrets Yves Quignon, secretary general of the local union of the CGT du Douaisis.
The latter filed a criminal complaint Tuesday against the group for endangering the lives of others, after management refused to employees of Lauwin-Planque (North) to exercise their right of withdrawal.
Compared to the announcements made on Friday, Mr. Quignon considers that the supply of only one mask per day and per employee is insufficient, and anyway considers that it would be more relevant to reserve these protections for caregivers.
"Inoperative" Rules
“Unless the employees are dressed as cosmonauts, the rules of distancing cannot be observed. The concentration of workers makes them ineffective, ”adds Laurent Degousée, union representative of Sud Commerce, the first union within Amazon in France.
Sud Commerce must also file Friday with the industrial tribunal of Nanterre eleven files of rights of withdrawal of employees contested by Amazon. The union still claims "the closure of six warehouses in France for at least 15 days", with partial unemployment "and at least that Amazon, which ensures to deliver only essential products, or 10% of total goods, uses only 10% of the staff. "
The American giant had, in fact, announced on March 21 to stop taking orders deemed "lower priority" on its French and Italian sites to focus on the most requested products, hygiene or basic.
But a CFDT union source from the Saran warehouse in Loiret, doubts the application of this measure: "We have had colleagues who tell us that it was not applied and this was done on March 17".
Asked about Friday's announcements, this source nevertheless judges that taking the temperature is "a good initiative", even if people may be asymptomatic.
International growls
The group is also under pressure from the government, the Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire having mentioned in mid-March "unacceptable pressures" on employees. Sunday, the Minister of Labor Muriel Pénicaud had, she, deemed the protective measures still insufficient.
"I had the minister on the phone and I invited her to come and see for herself in our distribution centers," said Frédéric Duval on Friday, ensuring that he discussed "on a daily basis with union organizations". "I hope that we, Amazon, have a modest role in managing this crisis, that we are a resource for a good number of French people to stay at home," pleaded Frédéric Duval, indicating that Amazon had "stock" .
The social grumbling against the American giant is not limited to France, since Monday, several dozen workers from Amazon's New York warehouse on Staten Island, south of Manhattan, observed a work stoppage. The company also tried to calm concerns by announcing Thursday that it would provide employees with thermometers, masks and disinfectant.
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- Containment
- Covid 19
- Coronavirus
- Economy
- Amazon