They ask for days off or exercise their right of withdrawal: employees of several Amazon sites in France claim the “serious and imminent danger” to which they are exposed, failing, they say, to be able to comply with safety rules health in the face of the coronavirus epidemic.
Right of withdrawal
While the activity of the American e-commerce group is supported by the containment of the French population, at least 200 employees of the site near Douai (North) on Tuesday exercised their right of withdrawal. Wednesday, about 50% of CDI have made the same move or were in walkout in Montélimar (Drôme), according to union sources.
“No one feels safe at Amazon today in France,” said Jérôme Guilain, Sud-Solidaires delegate at Lauwin-Planque, near Douai, who warned of a “serious and imminent danger” on Monday. “They do not put the necessary means to secure the workers,” he said. According to him, “people don’t want to come anymore”. “They are afraid of being present on the site” where 1,700 employees work, not counting the hundreds of temporary workers, depending on the period.
Between 80 and 100 site workers walked out on Wednesday afternoon, according to several union sources. “The employees ask at least to work in security and at most to close the site for 15 days,” wrote the union. According to the unions, there is not enough hydroalcoholic gel, no FFP2 mask, gloves or disinfectant wipes. And the physical distance of at least one meter is not applicable everywhere in the logistics center: teams crossing in the aisles, proximity on the packaging lines …
Suspected cases
In Boves, near Amiens (Somme), there are five suspected cases of Covid-19, say the unions. “Everyone is afraid; it turns into panic,” said Sandra Holota, union delegate CGT. But only “ten employees” have exercised their right of withdrawal in recent days. “Many do not because they will not be paid.”
According to Sandra Holota, “management has indicated that their absence will be considered an authorized absence without pay. We will not be penalized, not dismissed, but not paid”. “Is a DVD or a key a basic good?” Wonders an elected CFDT wanting to remain anonymous, saying that the share of food sales represents “very little” of the figure business.
Management responds
“The health and safety of our employees, partners and customers (…) remain our top priorities. We strictly follow the recommendations and directives of the government” and work to “continue to deliver the most affected customers, many of whom have no another way to get essentials, “Amazon management responded in a statement. The management ensures in particular “to reinforce the cleaning of all the installations”, “to cancel the meetings not essential”, “to modify the arrangement of the workplaces (…) so that the employees can maintain the necessary distance” or to organize “breaks staggered “.
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