Strokes, Head Injuries & Heat Exhaustion: Why Amazon Workers In Albany Are Unionizing

Amazon workers in Albany, NY are speaking out about the death trap conditions inside their warehouse. They describe relentless pressure in brutal conditions. The injuries are constant. Strokes. Heat exhaustion. Head trauma. It’s why they’re unionizing with Amazon Labor Union.
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[@DavidRichardson153]

I have worked all "mainline" stations in an Amazon warehouse - receiver (unloading trucks), picker, stower, packer, slammer, loader (loading trucks) - and they were all horrible. Those two years put my above-average physical fitness to the test. Did I come out stronger? No. Was I injured? Yes. Multiple times? Yes. How bad did it get for me? I started wearing compression gear - belts, bands, socks - to get through those 12-hr shifts...and I am someone who had been practicing multiple martial arts for nearly 10 years prior to when I started at Amazon (I still practice, because thankfully, none of the injuries were crippling or otherwise permanent). I got out long before Covid, just before they REALLY began ramping up their abuses. Make no mistake, though. They already were ramping them up by the time I finally chose to leave - they just started getting even more brazen with it by the time I left. Prior to Amazon, I worked a bad job at a small firm, and my five years there crushed my conservative leanings. My two years with Amazon crushed my capitalist leanings. Unite and Unionize all the way. That yacht Bezos had recently built will be leaving that river, just not in the manner he wanted.

[@PropheticShadeZ]

It's depressing how getting slapped in the face by reality is the best way to wake up, we shouldnt have needed these people to suffer to help them

[@arfinjalal4563]

Good for you David

[@BeachCity]

Teslabots get better treatment! Though I don't know Amazon will be using Teslabots. Something about Bezos and Musk.

[@The_Savage_Wombat]

Monopoly is not Capitalism. There used to be enforcement of anti-trust laws. Now the authorities just accept bribes/campaign contributions and look the other way.

[@GamerKru1996]

This is why I can't stand Jeff Bezos and Amazon.

[@demarcorosas3850]

Just to let you know, Andy Jassy is now Amazon's CEO.

[@MegaMan-bs3oy]

@@demarcorosas3850 like it will change? Walmart went thru 2 when i was there lowes as too. It never changes unless the employees make it.

[@Angelina6518]

Ghastly!

[@moalston4203]

@@MegaMan-bs3oy we need a unity leave your job if it useless movement work online or just sacrifice your materials your house your technology for a few years

[@keanuxu5435]

I applied for an Amazon warehouse once. I’m glad they never got back to me

[@happylistener4628]

Amazon/Jeff Bezos needs to be sued for providing poor employee working conditions. Especially by employees injured on the job.

[@darinsingleton3553]

The inevitable result of a society which segregates human beings into "The Deserving" & "The Disposable." And, the sad acknowledgment that our corporately-captured government, run by bought & sold politicians, will do almost nothing to meaningfully solve these abusive practices. It's people standing up for other people, facing hardships together, which is our strength. Solidarity to all.

[@al_gore_rythm]

well put

[@matthewronson5218]

AKA" "Essential" or "Non essential" workers.

[@rodneynelson7874]

Corporations don't care. Workers are expendable. Get used to it. Stand up for yourself.

[@user-lp9ou1hf4e]

this is crazy that common sense is not recognized. Does anyone know of a corporation that is cool?

[@soninalphin2771]

I heard of such stories from a cousin who worked for them once years ago, I imaged this could be a thing & now more than ever I'm grateful that I never chose to apply for Amazon.

[@jjtiojohn12]

thank you guys for telling these stories because somehow the American media refuses to tell them!

[@markfreeman4727]

the media chances 'clicks' and is also a propaganda machine to the highest bidder

[@domainmailbox3850]

Bezo has friends in very high places. "New employees" are coming into the country in droves. People who won't complain and will be happy just to have a job.

[@HoaxManTheOne]

bruh there isnt a single positive piece of media about warehouse working conditions. nobody is like "yeah man this is the best" except amazon themselves obviously. everybody knows you get treated like dogshit and worked to the bone at amazon or in delivery.

[@DesertWalker-zf7eb]

Companies like Amazon pay off the media, to hide this stuff....

[@michaeld4861]

"Only profits matter, people are more disposable than napkins." - Jeff Bezos

[@valentialeanza2304]

Sickening, seriously sickening!

[@insertname9736]

He really said that?

[@yokuzo11]

​@@insertname9736In so many words, yea, it translates into him saying that; And the brainwashed, possessed red vest managers do nothing other than quickly replace the workers who have collapsed under the brutal work conditions of an Amazon warehouse

[@bigcahuna42366]

There is a new Amazon warehouse about five minutes from my home. The facility and property have been sitting there completely finished since November last year but entirely vacant, mostly because they can't find people to work there.

[@Niccoleab]

I had 2 seizures at Amazon, one i the warehouse and one in the ambulance. It was November 30th during peak season last year. The only thing I remember that day was waking up in the ambulance. Amazon could AT LEAST foot the bill for the ambulance but they won't.

[@richardlouis1284]

This isn't just unique or particular to Amazon. Workers in all industries and businesses are called on to do more with less resources and protections.

[@Harlowerayne]

That's why I quit working for Amazon. I lasted three days.

[@ChristopherTiihonen]

I work in an unairconditioned manufacturing plant that regularly reaches over 100 degrees on the heat index on summer days and I'll be the first to tell you these folx working at Amazon deserve every bit of the security and pay that a union would bring to those facilities.

[@gizmod22]

Thanks for showing support. Your experience sounds worse than what I've experienced at Amazon but I appreciate you for saying that. Sometimes when people talk about worker deaths at Amazon they'll blame the victims or say they could handle it. I feel like that just shows a lot of disrespect.

[@doctordishes2es]

AMAZON DONT CARE I HAD MAJOR SURGURIES ON MY HAND FINGERS AND ELBOW TO GO TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT BUT MY SUPERVISORS DIDNT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME SO I QUIT BECAUSE I LIFT A HEAVY BOX A SHARP PAIN WENT DOWN MY ARM FROM CAR ACCIDENT WHEN YOU WORK THERE YOU ARE A MACHINE TO GO NO STOP FASTER FASTER GO GO GO THEY NEED A UNION

[@1982MCI]

These are the places that need the unions and where unions can make a difference, they don’t belong in the fast food restaurants where employees are taking advantage of the employers and customers. E

[@1982MCI]

These are the places that need the unions and where unions can make a difference, they don’t belong in the fast food restaurants where employees are taking advantage of the employers and customers.

[@1982MCI]

These are the places that need the unions and where unions can make a difference, they don’t belong in the fast food restaurants where employees are taking advantage of the employers and customers.

[@arfinjalal4563]

Eric are you fine now?

[@The_Savage_Wombat]

The warehouse in North Haven is barbaric. There are so many injuries and the managers don't even care at the Fulfillment Center. It's so dangerous and there is a constant push to work faster which results in even more injuries. OSHA should shut this building down until they respect the safety of their workers.

[@du4lstrik3]

I spent ten hours yesterday moving pallets of product stacked in totes. Easily hundreds of pounds per pallet. One is easy for anyone. Do it all day and you'll go home with blisters on your feet, aching achilles and thighs, etc. Wake up the next day, do it all over again. Amazon turns you into a zombie. Only reason I'm there is because I have a weird school schedule this semester. Just have to tough it out two more months and I'm gone.

[@Alice-df5lu]

Proud of them!! I got my entire family off Amazon, we now buy majority locally owned & made products. We’re lucky to live in a city where it’s possible to switch. We used to spend outrageous amounts of money on Amazon, literally 95% of our purchases were it. Videos/stories like these changed our habits. It’s sickening that no government, Republican or democrat, cares about these people. (Minus Bernie sometimes

[@LeftofTube]

Quotas exceed safe working conditions. Objects falling off shelving😡 Every employee should be calling OSHA everyday on them and filing a complaint.

[@theunidentified4887]

THIS IS HORRIBLE!! AMAZON NEEDS SHUT DOWN!!

[@MisterH1992]

I work at AMXL as a ship dock. I haven't gotten any injury. I did feel a lot of sore on the first few weeks but you get that when you start going to the gym too. After that, my body got accustomed. I'm 5'1 and not muscular. Learn how to use your body and don't let AMs and PAa bully you into overworking yourself. I would rather be terminated than break my arm. It's just a job. Work at your own pace. A job is replaceable, your body is not. Remember that.

[@MisterH1992]

The only reason I work at Amazon is cause no one else seems to want to hire me except fast food. I felt more overworked dealing with food and customers. I promised myself to never go back there.

[@MoPoppins]

I love that Amazon exists as a shopping experience, but I hate that the workers are treated like shit. 😢 A prosperous company & happy, healthy employees don’t have to be mutually-exclusive. I wish there were more business leaders who operated their companies as wins for EVERYONE. 🙏✨💕 It’s all feasible…the will just has to be there. I don’t understand these people who want more money than they’ll ever be able to spend, and furthermore, to ACTIVELY prevent people who just want to have a decent quality of life from ever acquiring relatively meager means to support themselves financially. We’re better as a society when more people can support themselves & be as independent as possible, leaning on others only when necessary, and being a mutual support to one another. Why are there SO many disregulated people who want to control others w/ money? It only buys you so much.

[@ultraviolet7838]

Honestly, the shopping experience is a bit problematic too. Consumers think “I don’t have to go out to buy stuff” and go on a shopping spree which is disastrous for the environment. Even if Amazon used EVs, there’s still the environmental impact of producing things you don’t need. Some capitalists don’t see business as a way to improve society but simply as a way to profit. They *will* exploit their workers and customers if there is no pushback.

[@MoPoppins]

@@ultraviolet7838 Amazon shoppers come in all kinds of flavors. Some are looking purely for online retail therapy, while some guy just what they want/need, without going overboard, and have a hybrid shopping style, where they still go to brick & mortar stores. With a behemoth like Amazon, they’d never go down w/o a fight, so if they’re to be beaten, they’d have to be SUPPLANTED, the way Netflix did w/ Blockbuster, back in the day.

[@Ink_Floyd]

It has to do a lot with their astonishing LACK of people skills and a whole lot with popularity contests rather than actual healthy COMPETITION.

[@rickystarling2863]

I worked for Amazon for 2 nights. About half way through the shift on the 2nd one, I clocked out and went home. There are better jobs out there that will treat you like a human being and not a robot.

[@Ianpact]

I look forward to a day where unions of other companies will go on strike to support other unions like they sometimes do in various European countries. Thank you, MPU crew.

[@johngarrett8789]

This is horrible. I shop on Amazon because I have mobility problems and it's difficult to get around sometimes. I feel guilty about shopping there. I remember the days when we had beautiful department stores with great customer service and demonstrations of new products shopping was fun. People got dressed up and made a day of it. Mostly all gone now so 😢 sad. Even the dime stores were elegant and exciting. I won't be here much longer but I imagine in 15 or 20 years there won't be any brick and mortar stores left. The age of civility and elegance is DEAD. Employees were once treated as people now too many are treated as part of a machine.

[@user-wz1qo1cn3i]

It would help if we still had Sears and Montgomery Ward where you could mail order if you have to and when those companies existed we did not hear so much about the injuries and too long hours like we do with Amazon. There are other places you can order online from that are not Amazon.

[@tylermane77]

Shit like this makes me glad I've stopped using Amazon over a year ago and haven't gone back since. At times it feels like a shallow bit of performative activism. Oh wow how great of you not ordering stuff online! How brave! But if me not ordering stuff from Amazon means a worker isn't risking injury picking and packing my shit I can get elsewhere, then I'd say that drop in the bucket is worth it.

[@ShadowstormProducts]

I have to wonder where OCEA is in cases like this.

[@taylortimeless]

The most recent warehouse job I had a lot of injuries that had people leaving in ambulances. I had to get a tetanus shot. The worked us like slaves. They don’t give af about the workers no matter what state they’re in. They’d write people up for getting hurt and having to take off for being hurt. They would even tell us how many days safe we were (which basically meant how many days there were no injuries). I quit over a week ago and i’m looking back on it and thinking about how crazy the culture was. “Look everyone! It’s been two days and no one hasn’t had to leave in an ambulance! Yaaaaaay!” The fact that people are getting hurt this often is disturbing.

[@reallifemoments.]

I worked at the Ace hardware in Lincoln, I did it for 2 or 3 months, as a second job, it was so stressful all around everything about that job was stressful. It reminded me of this.

[@davidkocinski109]

I was just terminated for a Luhu. I jokingly said I did it intentionally to get off the picker. I can never work there again. My rate was number 1

[@tomodonovan5931]

Amazon is the perfect example of a bee colony. You have the queen bee, the drone bees, and the worker bees. Queen and drones mate all the time. Worker bees are worked to death. That is Amazon.

[@elizabethhurtado2829]

God let's pray for these people

[@jo0123]

I remember an Amazon area manger once saying to us, please be safe, we had to call EMT every week this month.

[@TallulahBelle3276]

Just subbed. 👍🏽 Keep up the good work! 🙏🏾💝💯👏🏾

[@Scorpiosting_1029]

I wish Amazon would just collapse 1 day. But I know that'll never happen.

[@mattdwightbeheler4766]

trust me it will happen

[@MoPoppins]

The way it’d happen is if another company came along that the masses liked better, just as when Netflix crushed Blockbuster-the latter NEVER had a chance, at that point.

[@coaldoubt2879]

It will

[@happylistener4628]

@@MoPoppins Lol!. Yes. CEO, worker or business, everything is temporary. There is always someone or something brighter and more innovative to replace you or it.

[@davidstufflebean3285]

Won't happen, all these workers are replaceable, you may not like to hear it but it is true. At some point they will go to 1/8th the employees and mostly automation, same thing is happening at grocery chains a lot of the major chains are testing full self-check-out test stores now.

[@markfreeman4727]

i worked at fedex, while not as bad as amazon i don't think, i took it upon myself to wear a hardhat while i worked. Good thing to, once time boxes fell on my head with enough force to knock the hardhat off my head also one time was moving boxes, via standing on the rollers (board in place to i didn't slip) and throw them on a conveyer belt. It was an odd belt that necessitated this, but they clearly had a design in place to accommodate this, which was ignored completely for a 'faster' method. also slipped on the rollers one time unloading a truck. i quite for fear of ending up severally injured.

[@crush9197]

Don’t blame them just came back from workers comp after dislocating my knee and I’m on light duty but still doing the same tasks no one cares. Take care of yourselves because companies don’t care about us

[@LeighPhillips78]

I am from Albany and just so bloody horrified. I want to help. I want to do something!

[@kankerous6581]

Didn’t like the scan rate. Pods were always full, hard to put shit in and most items are big boxes

[@melcha7352]

Heck I'm not sure what the pay is for these positions but I'd rather pick up two jobs and leave UPS all delivery companies. No reason to work under these poor company care issues.

[@justinleclairabdullahqasim117]

God bless these worker's. Amazon should value those who make their business viable. If not then all good things turned bad come to an end.

[@billsmith3195]

Looks like Amazon management and the railroad management and unions are all the same people. Heartless. Shamefull. Advantage takers. TREAT YOUR PEOPLE RIGHT!!!

[@ismaelmorales7175]

I work for UPS I move 1500 package in an hour.

[@belladriver258]

The leg symptoms are dehydration, as a professional chef working 80 hours a week that is a professional chef in hot oven over 500F and stoves all over. I hate Amazon I stole $150 shoes from Bezos hahaha get EVN DONT get angry get EVEN!

[@aaronramirez2610]

I just got hired at Amazon,start 2morrow can't wait,it's going to be fun,, and great pay.

[@reformer6666]

This video must be from the warehouse where I work.

[@lov4128]

try the FL warehouses, they are soooo hot. Going to pass out one day.

[@davinxi5926]

These companies need to be held to the accountable. these policy harm employees.

[@mikeee7425]

Absolutely can’t stand that place!!! I’ve never ordered anything from them and never will !!!

[@tallie338]

The Most High God will indeed hold them accountable for how they treated people. I have never thought about working for Amazon. Thank God. And never what to work for them. Seeing this video and all the things that have been said by employees. It really does not sound like a safe or healthy place to work. Lord Jesus Christ have mercy.

[@Jwa-fo6nb]

Yes, I thank God everyday I never had to be in a hardship to where I had to work at a place like Amazon

[@ralphscholz9533]

What is with that site? I also work for Amazon and at my site things like that would cost the team manager his job.

[@emeraldkimble7602]

Seventy pounds is osha limit for lifting

[@avirichar4981]

Keep the fight going, literally for humanity's sake. While movies like Terminator and Matrix serieses are metaphors and not literal, they really depict the kind of depravity that pretty much necessarily happens when irl actual corporate machines are the only judge, jury, and executioner (and executive power) over people's lives, health, safety, livelihoods, and means of even surviving and existing in this corporatized mechanized monstrosity we call America (and globally capitalized and profiteering-ized hegemony of America-style wild-west amoral BS "protection" racketeering). So yeah, you're the real life heroes, actually, sincerely, and all without the big budget financing to paint your faces with hollywood makeup and digital wound-hiding lies.

[@TallMarisa]

Sh** in NJ we wernt even in our new facility yet and someone during training had to goto the hospital!!!!

[@MegaMan-bs3oy]

Yup here in TN at my FC we have POSITIVE cases coming into work because of the new policy. Damn these evil bastards.

[@XxArchPrincexX]

That makes three not counting many like those not reported to OSHA.

[@edc3743]

Donate to the ALB. NOW.

[@georgieippolito9924]

now I know why most battery electronic devices I get from Amazon sucks. they don't store anything at the proper temperature.

[@askmee326]

Do you have good lawyers for non subscriber cases

[@slightlygone]

How is Amazon still running is beyond me. But they need to be taken down

[@bertial]

They should give all excess to outreach programs or shelters

[@demarcorosas3850]

Welcome to another topic of mismanagement issues that lead to horrific working conditions.

[@peterwalrond2058]

The time is now brother's and sister's, no matter color, age, or sexual preference. As a laborer myself I say fight for better wages and job security! Organize, unionize and punch these white collar crime corporation syndicates in the face!!!!!

[@valentialeanza2304]

This is caused by greed. Period.

[@ViceCoin]

Why do people apply for Amazon jobs if it is so terrible?

[@foxymetroid]

Because food and rent aren't free.

[@ViceCoin]

@@foxymetroid Neither are medical bills.

[@latieraqueen7Pacheco]

Someone is not doing cub scanning right.

[@Argylenj]

Grainger isn’t any better !

[@drakecarter1780]

While I do feel for these workers, they decided to sign up for these jobs and knew the risks involved.

[@valeriekanski8892]

I worked at Amazon. It was a lot of hard work for meager pay. A lot of the supervisors had long nails and didn’t use first initiative to communicate with new employees.

[@BruceWaynesaysLandBack]

Horrible reason. But solid response. Godspeed

[@MS-nm2kt]

As a teamster I would love to see this company get unionized the way they treat their employees is disgraceful

[@user-lp9ou1hf4e]

unionized. generous salaries and bonuses.

[@deesabairagi8489]

This is how they treat their warehouse workers and this how they fire their corporate office employees with disabilities: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHPcgYqtd95pidk

[@mvpsmith]

It be the costumers complaining to the company so they push the workers more like devil demand demand demand compete compete compete like wtf 😬 Got to go in there as a athlete and a actor.

[@MongooseRoan]

I would look closer at their Labor Management System (LMS) software. LMS measures Key Performance Indicators (KPI). Feels like they’re LMS is either mismanaged or limited, my assumption this is based on what KPI standards I’ve heard from production employees in person and watching videos like this one. A working and safe LMS takes several considerations into account when calculating KPI’s including but not limited to Case Weight, Case Physical Characteristics, Human Fatigue, Temp, Time of Day, Location (maybe what aisle you work in), Machine Type (what equipment you’re working on), and Frequencies (frequencies being time added for random unforeseen instances per cases picked). In most cases when people are overworked and getting HURT in warehouse distribution facilities, it’s because leadership doesn’t have the proper training of their LMS and/or bother updating it. Scheduled and employee feedback LMS auditing is needed. One example, manufacturers don’t report Case Weight changes to warehouses, changes like an inner unit or material update can make product heavier; this could result in a Selectable Case going from 45LBS to 60LBS and the LMS would measure the Selector’s KPI on a 45LBS box. Now imagine having as many products slotted in your warehouse as Amazon from all over the world in multiple languages being governed by multiple countries. I bet it wouldn’t take long for their LMS system to be out of spec.

[@powerliftingpremedcrafter473]

Damn great info!

[@karrenpopovics2780]

I wonder what their'carbon footprint' is???

[@yankee5886]

Getting another job somewhere else would work to.

[@mattsmith817]

Machinery doesn't cause strokes! How can you blame a stroke on a piece of machinery?

[@allen8569]

It’s a warehouse… bruises will happen it’s not Disneyland lol go to any logistics company tell me it’s easier work.

[@astralclub5964]

Bezos makes 250 million dollars a day personally!

[@coaldoubt2879]

Work harder.....Dozens of capitalists depend on you.

[@al_gore_rythm]

should be on a bumper sticker somewhere

[@coaldoubt2879]

@@al_gore_rythm 🤔Indeed. I wonder if there are any death cults that could provide them.

[@Cheattoe]

Ahh don’t miss those days lmao I hated Amazon no pay no respect no cares

[@ThatMaverickMo]

Bull!@#¥. I would take any bathroom breaks and hydrate. If they write me up, I would hire a lawyer for abuse.

[@KDBHonda256]

I don't wanna hear about your leg pain.. i wanna hear about procedural issues, osha violations,training issue, etc.. btw i stopped drinking Gatorade, body armor, etc and just do water, orange juice only and no more pain or cramps. Try it!!

[@primaryendo]

Boy how i wish for the day Amazon pays dearly for the inhumane way it treats its employees

[@Bmanritchie]

HEAD exhaustion?

[@grmpEqweer]

Heat exhaustion.

[@Bmanritchie]

@@grmpEqweer glad for the correction

[@LS-ii3fy]

Back in America's horrible slave days, if a slave got sick. They were ordered to rest until very well so they can be productive again. At Amazon. They just say say get back to work. Amazon cant win this way. They need to treat their employees as valuable humans. Not less then slaves.

[@foxymetroid]

Slaves were expensive, so it made sense to not want to waste that investment. Amazon didn't have to literally buy their employees, so there's less incentive to even make the bare minimum attempt to not get them killed.

[@fluminesesoc]

Bruh got a toupee on

[@Troy-ol5fk]

I never buy anything from them

[@blaurue]

Where you going to make that $ & benefits. It brings jobs to jobless areas but it comes with a cost. If you aren't in shape physically, mentally, or emotionally, it is taxing. People worked as hard or harder in the past, but evolutionarily, we aren't as strong or resilient now I'm guessing.

[@jobschouten8174]

And yet, we are watching WK and buying amazon

[@deloresredman4792]

Worse than walmart....and that's saying something

[@capriphonix8863]

+

[@thomasthumim7630]

all those strong independent women . .... put your hands up 😑 seriously I need to see those hands

[@belladriver258]

Is all CHINA products made by children.. how you think Amazon is treating these children? If this is allow in the USA in third world countries the employees work in worse conditions

[@edc3743]

Without Socialism American Style YOU GET THIS. All humans are Jeff Bezos-capable. ANY ONE OF THEM, ALL OF THEM. Strong gov't for/by the people OR for/by the kings=CEOs, ya pays yur mony, ya tikes yur choice.

[@Hydro_Aero]

?

[@brianhenderson9470]

Do not use Amazon.

[@frankierhodes3363]

I have never order anything from Amazon and never will. I can't stand Jeff bozos.

[@alphastaromega715]

Your a number not a person.

[@echokehn4990]

Don't use Amazon!

[@kennydude7971]

Boo Hoo