Over two dozen Amazon workers inform the company didn’t answer appropriately to racist death threats in opposition to Unlit workers at its MDW2 facility in Joliet, Illinois, and retaliated in opposition to an employee who spoke out, according to a file from the Chicago Tribune (by the declare of Engadget). The 26 workers occupy reportedly filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
In late Might per chance impartial, workers said they came upon messages discovering out “[n-word]s gonna die” and “fuck these [n-words] at MDW2” written on lavatory partitions in the facility, according to the advocacy workforce Warehouse Workers for Justice. A day or two later, according to a file from native outlet Herald-News, workers realized that somebody anonymously called the facility with threats in opposition to Unlit workers.
Workers teach additional issues moreover made the place of work feel antagonistic. According to the Tribune, workers inform that Amazon allowed workers to build on clothes embellished with the Accomplice flag, which the Anti-Defamation League classifies as a hate symbol. Herald-News’ story moreover cites Marcos Ceniceros, government director of Warehouse Workers for Justice, who said there had currently been graffiti of swastikas and antisemitic messages at MDW2.
Warehouse Workers for Justice says that after the threats, Amazon told workers that they may per chance occupy voluntary damage day if they felt bad coming into work. As Tori Davis, a worn employee, aspects out, although, that’s now now not a right preference for workers who want the income. Speaking to the Tribune, she said: “We had to make a series of construct we defend and earn money and be in a neighborhood to pay our funds on the first, or construct we high-tail dwelling and be safe.”
Davis alleges that Amazon fired her after she threatened to get apt motion if the company didn’t switch to provide protection to her and her co-workers, according to the Tribune. Richard Rocha, an Amazon spokesperson told the Tribune that the company “works laborious to provide protection to our workers from any acquire of discrimination and to present an ambiance the save workers feel safe.” Nevertheless, Rocha did now not answer to the outlet’s requests for comment about Davis’ accusations or why it fired her, nor has the company straight away answer to The Verge’s question for comment.
Amazon isn’t the finest company going via accusations that it’s failed to stop racism at some of its services. Tesla has faced multiple lawsuits from workers about its factory in Fremont, California, and has reportedly paid out thousands and thousands in settlements pertaining to to racial discrimination at the plant. The automaker is being investigated by the EEOC.
