Amazon under fire over warehouses labelled 'breeding grounds for coronavirus'

The online retail giant is being accused by the GMB Union of failing to properly protect its workers during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The union, which has had a surge in Amazon staff joining it, says workers are being made to clock in and out at the same time as hundreds of others, while packed company buses ferry workers back and forth.

GMB members report being made to pack and pick items in cramped aisles, with no hand sanitiser, gloves or masks available.

Also the GB alleges that communal water fountains are still in use despite the obvious risk of spreading the deadly virus.

Many workers have told the union that no risk assessments have been completed.

It says Amazon has offered an extra £2 per hour for every hour worked and while the extra money is welcome, staff are worried it will act as an incentive for people who have Covid-19 symptoms to come to work instead of calling in sick.

Amanda Gearing, GMB senior organiser, said: “Amazon is famous around the world for its brutal workplace culture and reckless disregard for its workers safety.

“It’s disappointing but not surprising that they continue to risk their workers’ lives for profit.

“Herding workers together like cattle is undermining the national lockdown and putting hundreds of working families at risk. The NHS is stretched to its limit and Amazon’s failure to act is turning its warehouses into a breeding ground for coronavirus.

“GMB is dedicated to protecting workers, and Amazon need to step up immediately. We need risk assessments, PPE for the workers and full pay for vulnerable workers for 12 weeks. Social distancing needs to be enforced right away to control the spread.

“It just goes to show that companies will always protect profits first. Only when you join with other workers will you get power and protection. That’s why we’ve had a surge in new people joining from Amazon this month.”

Amazon issued a response to the GMB's claims, saying: "Since the early days of this situation, we have worked closely with health authorities to proactively respond, ensuring we continue to serve customers while taking care of our associates and teams.

"We have also implemented proactive measures at our facilities to protect employees including increased cleaning at all facilities, maintaining social distance in the fulfilment centre, introducing temperature checks and adding distance between drivers and customers when making deliveries."

Amazon also said that the GMB was not able to substantiate its claim that fulfilment centres were a “breeding ground for coronavirus” and it was not true staff were clocking in and out at the same time as it had staggered start and break times to ensure social distancing could be maintained.

It also says it is not true that company buses are packed or that staff pack and pick items in cramped aisles, with no hand sanitiser, gloves or masks available.

The company also says that it does not have any communal water fountains and is carrying out risk assessments and is following health authority and WHO guidelines.

Some Amazon staff at Rugeley, where 1,000 people work full time, have welcomed the measures the Seattle-based company has taken.

Claire Wiltshire, an associate partner,said: “Amazon has pulled out all the stops – I genuinely don’t think they could do anything else to help keep us safe.”

Associate Leanne Rowe added: “The things that have been put in place are really good and the temperature checks before we start add to our peace of mind."

"As long as everyone follows the things Amazon have put in place we will all be safe," said associate Claire Thompson.