New York (AFP)
American employees of Amazon, its supermarket subsidiary Whole Foods or supermarket delivery services were called to strike on Friday, taking advantage of May 1 to denounce employers accused of not sufficiently protecting them against the pandemic.
In front of Amazon's warehouse on Staten Island, in New York, there were about fifteen demonstrators at midday. Among them, a handful of employees of the online sales giant, but also employees of public transport or nurses, masked and armed with signs showing their "solidarity".
"We want them to close this building, we want them to clean it, and they want to reopen it when it's ready, but only when everything has been cleaned and the employees feel safe," he said. 'AFP Derrick, an employee of Amazon.
Recently dismissed former employee Chris Smalls - who allegedly instigated the protest when Amazon claims he broke the rules by continuing to work after being tested positive for Covid-19 - told him the warehouse now had "50 to 60 cases" positive for the new coronavirus.
"Every day, or every other day, there is a new case in this building," he said.
He said on Twitter that workers from at least six other Amazon warehouses across the country were going to demonstrate.
New York state attorney Letitia James recently sent a letter to Amazon requesting an explanation for her dismissal, and saying it is investigating possible workplace violations of workplace safety laws, according to NPR radio. .
People working for supermarket delivery services like Shipt or Instacart - mostly self-employed - were also called to join the movement on Friday.
All of these employees are considered "essential" during the pandemic and continue to work despite the confinement.
Despite several such actions in recent weeks, Amazon - owned by the world's richest man Jeff Bezos - claims to have strengthened security efforts and increased leave for its employees affected by the Covid-19.
© 2020 AFP