'People don't want to be treated like garbage'
SEATTLE -- Two former Amazon warehouse workers from Pennsylvania claim they are a few of many people who spent hours in horrible conditions. Thursday, they, and several local protesters, took their message to Amazon's Seattle headquarters, demanding swift changes.
"End slavery at Amazon," said Karen Salasky. "We are overworked, underpaid."
Salasky says she worked in terrible conditions at the Amazon warehouse near Allentown, Penn. while fulfilling orders for customers.
"If you were to pass out right in front of them, it was your fault," she said.
She claims the company pushed workers too hard, even when it was 100 degrees inside.
"People were passing out. They didn't care," she said. "We had to keep working harder. Harder, harder. We weren't enough."
Salasky claims paramedics often waited outside as workers labored in the heat.
"I would walk up to 8 to 10 miles per day, every day," Salasky said.
Amazon didn't respond to our repeated requests for comment, but the company told Morning Call newspaper - which first exposed the warehouse issues in Pennsylvania - "The safety and welfare of our employees is our No. 1 priority at Amazon."
But 61-year-old Jim Herbolt says he was fired when he couldn't keep up the pace.
"They need to overlook their businesses and make a lot of corrections and listen to what the people tell them, and make the corrections," he said. "And they'd have people that want to stay there and work. People don't want to be treated like garbage."
In published reports, Amazon says it has many safety measures in place for employees who work during summer heat. But the protestors insist more changes are needed.
"End slavery at Amazon," said Karen Salasky. "We are overworked, underpaid."
Salasky says she worked in terrible conditions at the Amazon warehouse near Allentown, Penn. while fulfilling orders for customers.
"If you were to pass out right in front of them, it was your fault," she said.
She claims the company pushed workers too hard, even when it was 100 degrees inside.
"People were passing out. They didn't care," she said. "We had to keep working harder. Harder, harder. We weren't enough."
Salasky claims paramedics often waited outside as workers labored in the heat.
"I would walk up to 8 to 10 miles per day, every day," Salasky said.
Amazon didn't respond to our repeated requests for comment, but the company told Morning Call newspaper - which first exposed the warehouse issues in Pennsylvania - "The safety and welfare of our employees is our No. 1 priority at Amazon."
But 61-year-old Jim Herbolt says he was fired when he couldn't keep up the pace.
"They need to overlook their businesses and make a lot of corrections and listen to what the people tell them, and make the corrections," he said. "And they'd have people that want to stay there and work. People don't want to be treated like garbage."
In published reports, Amazon says it has many safety measures in place for employees who work during summer heat. But the protestors insist more changes are needed.
