3 ms·

I listened to a podcast recently about Amazon union drives and apparently the big gripe isn't wages but working conditions. The almost universal sentiment is th

by api 6y ago

I listened to a podcast recently about Amazon union drives and apparently the big gripe isn't wages but working conditions. The almost universal sentiment is that people are treated like robots. Breaks are so rare and short that pissing in bottles or defecating in bags is common. Sometimes people have to choose between relieving themselves and eating since the break is too short for both. Most of the people interviewed wanted more humane working conditions. There are many worse places to work, but that's whataboutism and using that argument leads to a race to the bottom.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
tomnipotent 6y ago
> pissing in bottles or defecating in bags is common I'd be willing to wager this "fact" has been brought up more in this thread alone than has actually happened on the job. Makes for great sensationalism, though. The union cause would be much better served without this silly BS being shared like it's the actual cause of woos.
- ncallaway 6y ago
  "Stop pointing out the worst abuses of the workers, in your effort to reduce the abuse of workers!" https://theintercept.com/2021/03/25/amazon-drivers-pee-bottles-union/ https://theintercept.com/2021/03/25/amazon-drivers-pee-bottl...
- rapnie 6y ago
  I don't know, but read this yesterday: "Leaked memo shows Amazon knows delivery drivers resort to urinating in bottles" https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/25/amazon-delivery-workers-bathrooms-memo https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/25/amazon-de... > The email [May 2020] went on to say: “We’ve noticed an uptick recently of all kinds of unsanitary garbage being left inside bags: used masks, gloves, bottles of urine.” > Workers have previously told the Guardian they needed to urinate inside water bottles on a daily basis for fear of missing delivery rates. A forum on Reddit dedicated to Amazon drivers, which, while impossible to vet completely for authenticity, nonetheless shows hundreds of comments from drivers claiming they frequently have to urinate in water bottles for lack of bathroom breaks while on the job
- blueline 6y ago
  It’s so common that within 16 hours of soliciting anonymous tips about the prevalence of it within Amazon, the intercept was able to fill an entire article with evidence of how common it is

by api 6y ago

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

tomnipotent 6y ago

> pissing in bottles or defecating in bags is common I'd be willing to wager this "fact" has been brought up more in this thread alone than has actually happened on the job. Makes for great sensationalism, though. The union cause would be much better served without this silly BS being shared like it's the actual cause of woos.

ncallaway 6y ago
"Stop pointing out the worst abuses of the workers, in your effort to reduce the abuse of workers!" https://theintercept.com/2021/03/25/amazon-drivers-pee-bottles-union/ https://theintercept.com/2021/03/25/amazon-drivers-pee-bottl...
rapnie 6y ago
I don't know, but read this yesterday: "Leaked memo shows Amazon knows delivery drivers resort to urinating in bottles" https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/25/amazon-delivery-workers-bathrooms-memo https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/25/amazon-de... > The email [May 2020] went on to say: “We’ve noticed an uptick recently of all kinds of unsanitary garbage being left inside bags: used masks, gloves, bottles of urine.” > Workers have previously told the Guardian they needed to urinate inside water bottles on a daily basis for fear of missing delivery rates. A forum on Reddit dedicated to Amazon drivers, which, while impossible to vet completely for authenticity, nonetheless shows hundreds of comments from drivers claiming they frequently have to urinate in water bottles for lack of bathroom breaks while on the job
blueline 6y ago
It’s so common that within 16 hours of soliciting anonymous tips about the prevalence of it within Amazon, the intercept was able to fill an entire article with evidence of how common it is