There’s a popular statement on TV that goes like this: if you can’t take what’s happening, walk away! And these Amazon workers in the Riverside delivery station are doing that.
They are not walking out because they don’t like their jobs, but they are walking out because they are not permitted to form a union.
And they did walk out three times already. Whoa.
Workers’ unions are very important to avoid incidents at work like unfair wages, and even harassment.
Last February, an Amazon worker at Riverside got into a messy confrontation with a former co-worker who accused him of harassment. The man had already been fired, but somehow got inside the building again.
He is Emmanuel Cadena, and he knew the woman, blaming her for the firing. Another worker stepped in.
“He flashed the gun and said, ‘If you and your friend have a problem, you can see me outside,’” Cadena recalled.
Their confrontation happened near the conveyor belt where the workers sort packages. What’s even more interesting is that, Amazon never paused the work.
“There’s no sort of cover in any capacity,” he said, and there were no security guards. They demanded security guards, and they were granted this.
These are just among the reasons why workers’ unions can do good.
Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson stated about these matters, “The safety of our employees and partners is our highest priority, and we take matters like this incident seriously.”
He further noted how Amazon immediately notified law enforcement agencies, and provided resources to employees, and that the company has “proactively added additional layers of security” at the delivery facility.
Last September 2nd, another walkout ensued, and this was the third since December.
Unlike other delivery platforms recently granted the opportunity to form unions, Amazon is left behind.
A workers’ union is an organization that represents employees and protects their shared interests. Unions negotiate with employers over wages, benefits, working hours, safety, and workplace policies. They are crucial because collective representation can strengthen employees’ bargaining power, address workplace concerns, protect legal rights, and promote fairer working conditions.
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