Labour Research June 2018

Health & Safety Matters

Amazon conditions slammed


The GMB general union has called on the Amazon online retail giant to address “hellish” working conditions as the company announced that its revenues for the first quarter of this year had jumped by 43% to £36.7 billion.


The union says its members working at Amazon have described conditions as “slave labour”, with some too scared or under too much pressure to go to the toilet and resorting to urinating into plastic bottles. 


“As Amazon post these bumper results, it’s about time we removed the packaging to reveal the way its workers say they’re being treated every day,” said GMB national officer Mick Rix. 


“This is a company that makes fantastical sums of money, so why do its workers report ‘hellish’ working conditions? Why are they ending up urinating into plastic bottles? It’s inhuman, degrading and demeaning.”


He said the company could “more than afford” to provide decent terms and conditions for its workers.

www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/amazon-results-robots