Sen. Markey joins Amazon workers, Teamsters in Revere to demand protections for warehouse workers

Special to The Advocate

Recently, Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who is chair of the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’ Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, joined Amazon warehouse workers and labor leaders in Revere to urge passage of the Warehouse Worker Protection Act. This Act mandates protecting warehouse workers by prohibiting dangerous work speed quotas that lead to high rates of worker injuries and also mandates requiring companies to disclose what quotas apply to workers.

“I am proud to stand with warehouse workers to call attention to the exploitative and dangerous conditions at Amazon. Companies like Amazon would rather protect their bottom line than protect the workers that make their companies run. Workers are forced to break their own backs to try and make a living for themselves and their families,” said Senator Markey. “We must pass my Warehouse Worker Protection Act to protect warehouse workers from corporate greed, to ensure that they are treated with respect, and provide the safety, security, and support they rightfully deserve.”

“Amazon is leading a race to the bottom where corporations abuse warehouse workers and sacrifice their health and safety for profits. Teamsters will fight for workers wherever they are ready to assert their power, fight for their rights, and stand up to corporate greed. The Teamsters will be there standing with them, shoulder to shoulder. The Warehouse Worker Protection Act will force transparency and accountability and raise the standards nationwide in an industry that used to provide good, union, middle class jobs everywhere. It’s time for Congress and the Massachusetts Legislature to take a stand to give all workers the fair and dignified workplace they deserve,” said Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari.

“The more we talk to Amazon warehouse workers who constantly describe the most abusive and dangerous workplace imaginable, the more determined we are to help them. International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien’s strong leadership is empowering us to make an impact for these workers and President Tom Mari has been in this fight since we first started, doing everything in his power to move this campaign forward. Teamsters Local 25 understands this is a pivotal moment for our future and we won’t rest until greedy corporations give all warehouse workers the wages, safety and respect they deserve,” said Teamsters Local 25 Director of Organizing Chris Smolinsky, who is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Eastern Region Organizing Coordinator for the Amazon Division.

The Warehouse Worker Protection Act would require companies to provide written notice to workers of quotas and prohibit dangerous quotas – including those that rely on constant intrusive surveillance, interfere with workers’ ability to use the bathroom and take guaranteed breaks, violate health and safety laws, or prevent workers from exercising their right to organize. The legislation also directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to create an ergonomic management standard for warehouse workers.

According to a report released in May 2024 by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) and other worker groups, one in 15 Amazon workers sustains injuries, with Amazon representing 79 percent of large warehouse employment but 86 percent of all injuries. Recent data shows that more than half of workers (54% of Amazon and 57% of Walmart) reported that their production rate makes it hard for them to use the bathroom at least some of the time. In addition, the NELP report indicates that these quotas are sometimes applied without employer disclosure, despite employees being held accountable to those standards.

Senator Markey, along with Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), introduced the Warehouse Worker Protection Act on May 2, 2024. The Act is endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the United Food and Commercial Workers, the National Employment Law Project (NELP), the Athena Coalition and Oxfam America.