WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of Amazon “Prime Day,” U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, legislation led by Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) along with Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) that would protect warehouse workers by prohibiting opaque and dangerous work speed quotas that can lead to high rates of worker injuries. The bill is also sponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
On Amazon “Prime Day,” which this year runs from July 16 to July 17, workers face longer shifts, forced overtime, and even more punishing work speeds. According to a report released by the majority staff of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, nearly half of all Amazon warehouse workers were injured during the week of Prime Day in 2019. During that same time period, ten percent of Amazon workers—double the rate for other warehouse workers—experienced an injury or illness that led to serious medical treatment, missed work, or death.
“Everyone deserves fairness, dignity, and respect in their jobs. But large corporations’ use of work speed quotas—enhanced by AI and surveillance—endangers workers’ safety, with employees skipping breaks to meet aggressive quotas,” said Senator Welch. “This bill prohibits this abusive practice and forces corporations to prioritize workers’ health and safety over profits.”
“This Prime Day, Amazon is expected to rake in $15 billion in sales and record profits, while warehouse workers can expect to see backbreaking work speeds, punishingly long shifts, and tens of thousands of serious injuries,” said Senator Markey. “Amazon would see no profit if not for their workers, yet instead of treating workers with the dignity and respect they deserve, Amazon forces their workers to break their backs for corporate executive and shareholder profit. It is immoral and unjust. The Warehouse Worker Protection Act would protect Amazon workers from the worst of corporate greed and guarantee that all warehouse workers have dignity and respect at work.”
The Warehouse Worker Protection Act would require companies to provide written notice to workers of quotas, prohibit dangerous quotas – including those that rely on constant intrusive surveillance, interfere with workers’ ability to use the bathroom and take guaranteed breaks – violate health and safety laws, or prevent workers from exercising their right to organize. The legislation also directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to create an ergonomic management standard for warehouse workers.
The Warehouse Worker Protection Act is endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the United Food and Commercial Workers, the National Employment Law Project (NELP), the Athena Coalition, and Oxfam America.
Read the full text of the bill.
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