<p>The Amazon warehouse worker who organized a strike to demand the company better protect its workers amid the coronavirus pandemic has been fired.</p>
<p>Chris Smalls said he was fired Monday after he organized the strike, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/03/30/amazon-fires-staten-island-coronavirus-strike-leader-chris-smalls.html">confirmed</a>. Amazon told the outlet that Smalls was fired because he ignored “multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines” and refused to quarantine himself even though he had contact with another worker who tested positive for COVID-19.</p>
<p>&#8220;Despite that instruction to stay home with pay, he came onsite today, March 30, further putting the teams at risk,&#8221; an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC. &#8220;This is unacceptable and we have terminated his employment as a result of these multiple safety issues.&#8221;</p>
<p>Smalls released his own statement.</p>
<p>&#8220;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,&#8221; Smalls said in a statement to media outlets. &#8220;I am outraged and disappointed, but I&#8217;m not shocked. As usual, Amazon would rather sweep a problem under the rug than act to keep workers and working communities safe.&#8221;</p>
<p>As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-amazon-workers-walkout-after-covid-19-hits-warehouse">reported</a> Monday, Smalls led a strike of workers at Amazon’s Staten Island warehouse whom he said were forced to go to work even though multiple workers tested positive for COVID-19.</p>
<p>“If a building tests positive you should shut it down and sanitize it,” Smalls told <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/coronavirus-amazon-workers-walkout-staten-island">FOX Business</a>. “That’s all we’re asking for. … If we don’t get a response today, then we’re going to City Hall.”</p>
<p>He told ABC News that he also requested Amazon pay back employees who used vacation or sick days to avoid contracting the virus.</p>
<p>“People are afraid to work. People are there working and they’re putting their lives at risk because there are a number of (coronavirus) cases that they are not aware of,” he told <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Business/people-afraid-amazon-warehouse-workers-york-walk-off/story?id=69871849">ABC News</a>.</p>
<p>Smalls also said Amazon lied by saying just one worker tested positive for the virus. Smalls suggested as many as seven had contracted the virus and that he, as a management assistant, personally sent home the third person who tested positive. Smalls said the first woman who tested positive “already had time to spread it” by the time she left the facility.</p>
<p>“Her friend caught it. Her friend was the third case. She tested positive and she’s a supervisor in the pack department and the pack department is right before the items go out door to the customers. It’s dangerous,” he said.</p>
<p>Smalls said Monday that between 50 and 100 people planned to join him in walking off the job, but Amazon disputed that number to CNBC, saying just 15 people joined the walkout.</p>
<p>&#8220;Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are working hard to keep employees safe while serving communities and the most vulnerable,&#8221; the company told CNBC in a statement. &#8220;The truth is the vast majority of employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for customers every day.&#8221;</p>
<p>Amazon in its statement also said the accusations that the company was not taking the virus seriously were “unfounded” and claimed it had taken “extreme measures” to ensure worker safety.</p>
<p>Workers at other facilities told CNBC that hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are rationed and that Amazon simply isn’t doing enough to protect them.</p>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Amazon Fires Worker Who Led Strike Over Coronavirus Working Conditions

CONTINUE READING

‘Dangerous Precedent’: Court Sides With University Over Jury in False Rape Defamation Case

Trevor Bauer Wins Lawsuit Against False Accuser. Will The MLB Take Him Back?

Trump Admin Bans Illegal Immigrants From Getting Taxpayer-Backed Mortgages

Texas Man Arrested After Video Allegedly Shows Him Ramming ATV Into Tesla

Kristi Noem Tours El Salvador’s Gang Prison Before Threatening To Deport More Criminals

Columbia Anti-Israel Group Reactivated Instagram Account Just Before Oct. 7 Attack, Lawsuit Says

News and Commentary

Amazon

COVID

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Menu

— News and Commentary —

Amazon Fires Worker Who Led Strike Over Coronavirus Working Conditions