An Amazon employee claims he was fired by the corporate after he led a protest against its coronavirus safety conditions. In an interview with Bloomberg, Chris Smalls, former assistant manager at Amazon's Staten Island fulfillment center, said that he and quite 60 colleagues walked off the work on Monday to demand Amazon close the middle for correct cleaning. Smalls said his employment was subsequently terminated.
The protest was the newest during a string of coronavirus-related demonstrations held by Amazon employees. consistent with Smalls, staff haven't been given adequate protective gear and lots of are scared of contracting the virus and spreading it to their families. Protestors say that variety of their colleagues are diagnosed with COVID-19.
Amazon has confirmed that it fired Smalls, but says it did so because he violated safety rules, including failing to self-isolate after being exposed to a colleague with a confirmed case of the virus. during a statement to Bloomberg¸ Amazon said, "Mr. Smalls received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines and putting the security of others in danger . [He] was asked to stay home with buy 14 days, which may be a measure we're taking at sites round the world. Despite that instruction to remain home with pay, he came on site today, March 30, further putting the teams in danger ."
The company also contested the amount of employees involved in Monday's protest, claiming just 15 individuals from the power took part. Smalls has dubbed Amazon's response "ridiculous" and said within the TV interview, "Because i attempted to face up for something that's right, the corporate decided to retaliate against me." He added, "I'm still getting to still fight for those people inside the building."
New York Attorney General Letitia James released a press release in response to the news. "It is disgraceful that Amazon would terminate an employee who bravely stood up to guard himself and his colleagues," she said on the Attorney General website. "At the peak of a worldwide pandemic, Chris Smalls and his colleagues publicly protested the shortage of precautions that Amazon was taking to guard them from COVID-19."
James also involved the National Labor Relations Board to intervene: "In ny , the proper to arrange is codified into law, and any retaliatory action by management related thereto is strictly prohibited. At a time when numerous New Yorkers are struggling and are deeply concerned about their safety, this action was also immoral and inhumane. The Office of the Attorney General is considering all legal options, and that i am calling on the National Labor Relations Board to research this incident."
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