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In response to increasingly precarious working conditions, workers across the country have staged strikes, either by walking out on the job or by staging “sick-outs,” in which they call in sick en masse to protest labor conditions. Their demands include access to more masks and hand sanitizer, as well as better protections for seasonal employees. As more workers follow suit, we could see companies that have long profited from the gig economy forced to make some real reforms.
At Amazon, the $2 additional hazard pay for employees is still scheduled to end after the month of May, despite stay-at-home orders remaining in several states. An Amazon told the Cut, “To thank employees and help meet increased demand, we’ve paid our team and partners nearly $800 million extra since COVID-19 started while continuing to offer full benefits from day one of employment. With demand stabilized, next month we’ll return to our industry-leading starting wage of $15 an hour.
A few hours after the walkout, Amazon confirmed it had fired Smalls, purportedly for failing to follow social-distancing guidelines, and disputed the number of people who participated, saying it was only around 15. Smalls released a statement, saying, “Amazon would rather fire workers than face up to its total failure to do what it should to keep us, our families, and our communities safe.
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