Amazon Fires Staten Island Worker Following COVID-19 Safety Protest
An Amazon employee claims the company fired him for leading a walkout at a Staten Island warehouse over coronavirus safety concerns. Amazon states the termination occurs because the worker violated a paid quarantine order.
Amazon workers stage a walkout at a Staten Island warehouse to demand a facility cleaning after a colleague tests positive for COVID-19. The protesters accuse the retail giant of failing to inform staff about growing infections and neglecting adequate safety measures. One of the organizing employees, Chris Smalls, reports that Amazon fires him shortly after the demonstration concludes.
Amazon defends its decision by stating that Smalls violates a direct order to stay home with pay for two weeks. The company explains that it places Smalls in a paid quarantine out of caution due to potential close contact with an infected individual. Amazon dismisses the protest's claims as misleading and unfounded, arguing that the worker ignores proper health protocols.
The company insists it takes extreme measures to protect its workforce during the pandemic. These steps include tripling deep cleaning efforts, procuring available safety supplies, and modifying workflows to enforce social distancing. Amazon praises the majority of its staff as heroes who continue to deliver critical items to communities despite the ongoing crisis.