Useful information
Prime News delivers timely, accurate news and insights on global events, politics, business, and technology
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has reached a settlement with Amazon over alleged dangerous workplace conditions at ten of the tech giant’s facilities. Under the terms of the settlement, Amazon will pay a $145,000 fine and must implement “company-wide ergonomic measures” to reduce the risk of injury to workers. OSHA will also continue to inspect facilities over the next two years. On the government side of the agreement, OSHA is withdrawing nine of its ten ergonomic citations against the company.
Ergonomic injuries are also known as musculoskeletal disorders. These may include sprains and strains experienced at work.
A representative of the Department of Labor said ABC News that this settlement is the “largest of its kind” and will “resolve all pending ergonomic litigation” against Amazon. However, it will not affect a separate investigation into Amazon allegedly concealing workplace injuries that is currently underway in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Amazon has denied those charges.
Amazon’s workforce also made headlines this week when strikes began at multiple facilities in California, Georgia, Illinois and New York. Members of the Teamsters union organized the effort, and several union chapters voted to take action against the company. The Teamsters had asked Amazon to negotiate working conditions, wages and benefits, and asked the company to agree to negotiation dates for a contract before December 15. gate of hell Footage captured from the first day of strikes in Queens, New York, showing a peaceful picket being broken up by local police, who reportedly barricades erected to allow contractors to enter and exit the Amazon distribution center.
“If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed,” Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said in a of the organization. “We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do what’s right for our members. They ignored it.”
