"Worried about his health", he decided to assert his right of withdrawal because of the Covid-19 epidemic due to the coronavirus. Like several hundred Amazon employees in France in recent days, Gilles (the first name has been changed) decided to leave his post in the giant warehouse of Brétigny-sur-Orge, inaugurated in October 2019 in Essonne. "I'm too afraid of it," he says, on condition of anonymity.
"Before, we had hydroalcoholic gel to wash our hands but since Friday, there is none," he begins in a soft voice. When co-workers come with gloves and masks, which they have brought home, they are prohibited from wearing them. "
However, according to this employee, the virus can easily be transmitted between colleagues because, nowhere, safety distances - the fifth pillar of barrier gestures recommended by health authorities - would not be respected. “We work on conveyors ( Editor's note: kinds of conveyor belts that transport products ). It is not possible to keep distance from each other, because all packages arrive at the same time. "And the employee regretted the not sufficiently rigorous disinfection of walkie-talkies and" scanners ", these devices which make it possible to follow, step by step, the preparation of the order.
"People are glued, they don't have a mask"
Same problem in break rooms and locker rooms. “The morning team works from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the afternoon team from 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the night team from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. We all meet at the same time in the locker room, says Gilles. These are small vertical lockers, a bit like in high schools, in front of which we are very close to each other. The break, not free, fixed at the same time for all, also facilitates reconciliations.
In the Lauwin-Planque warehouse, in the Lille region (North), another employee noticed the same malfunctions. “People are glued. They don't have a mask. The gel is not available everywhere and the gloves are limited to two pairs per month by a badge system ", denounces this employee, who was placed in confinement by his doctor" because of a dry cough ". He regrets: “This Thursday, an email announced that arrivals to the canteen, which contains 700 people, would be staggered but the boxes, carts and scans continue to pass from hand to hand without being disinfected. "
According to a CGT union delegate, 300 employees have already exercised their right of withdrawal from the 1,743 permanent contracts on this northern site, named “Lil1”. "The notebook which allows to declare a serious and imminent danger is compulsory, but it cannot be found," he denounces. The unions identify the employees who exercise their right of withdrawal, but the management replies that it is not legitimate, that the danger is not serious and imminent and it counts them in “unjustified unpaid absences”. “We are put under unbearable pressure. "
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In Brétigny, Gilles says he saw "two people feeling unwell this week and being taken to the infirmary". “We don't know what they have. Nobody tells us anything, ”he regrets. He denounces the pressure which is exerted even more on temporary workers. "Those who stopped to babysit were told they would be paid 50%," reports Gilles.
Bruno Le Maire attacks, Amazon defends itself
"Unacceptable pressure on its employees" is also what denounced the Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire Thursday morning, publicly taking part in Amazon.
"The health and safety of our employees, partners and customers remain our top priorities, argues, evasive, Amazon. We respect all the rights of our employees, including the right to withdraw when the conditions are met. The problem is that only a judge can judge that the conditions are met. Not an employer. But the courts are currently at a standstill.
"The measures we have taken are strong and ensure the safety of our employees in strict compliance with the recommendations of the Government and local health authorities," argues Amazon, avoiding the issue of gels, masks or gloves. Management does, however, "strengthen the cleaning of all facilities", "space furniture in break rooms" or organize "staggered lunch breaks". "