Amazon workers walk off the job in Joliet

Chicago Sun Times ^ | Oct 11, 2022 | David Roeder

[Salman]

Amazon employees at an important distribution hub in Joliet walked off the job Tuesday, calling attention to their demands for higher pay and new workplace safety rules.

The walkout by some employees on the day shift was timed to disrupt the retailer’s operations during its Prime Day promotion, which lasts Tuesday and Wednesday. It was part of a national pressure campaign, supported by pro-labor groups, that included job actions near Atlanta and a walkout planned Friday in San Bernardino, California.

Organizers said more than 600 workers in Joliet signed a petition demanding that the company raise base hourly wages to $25. Amazon has said it has raised average starting pay for warehouse staff to $19 an hour. The workers also are demanding a more robust company response to death threats directed at Black employees that they said were posted in an employee washroom last May.

Cesar Escutia, a warehouse associate for about three months at Amazon, said a manager was dismissive about the threats despite widespread employee concerns. Escutia also said his hourly wage is $18.50.

...

[Salman]

The usual union stuff + racist death threats.

I'm skeptical about the racist death threats.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Hey guys - your salary increase went to pay for Amazon’s billion dollar Woke disaster, Lord of the Rings.

[kearnyirish2]

Whatever the cause, more and more people are sick of working high-pressure jobs for little more than room and board. I don’t know what the wage should be, but the market used to determine that - until the borders were opened and foreign workers could undercut American wages. It is an end-run around “supply and demand”.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

For everyone reading this article:

The City of Joliet levies a $5 fine for anyone pronouncing the city name as “Jah lee yet”.

Correct pronunciation is “Joe lee yet”.

If you pronounce the city name incorrectly while reading, please send the $5 to the Freep-a-thon.

[Red Badger]

[SamAdams76]

I used to pronounce it Joi-let (rhymes with toilet)

[Lazamataz]

I pronounce “Joliet” like this

Teh’FLEH

[mikelets456]

$25 is the new $15 soon to be $50.....soon to be....

[Lazamataz]

I pronounce “Joliet” like this:

SHI’brahg

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

You must be from Indy-an-er.

[Lazamataz]

I pronounce “Chicago” like this:

Crah-POLE

[ChuxsterS]

"The workers also are demanding a more robust company response to death threats directed at Black employees that they said were posted in an employee washroom last May."

Did Jussie Smollettt get a job at Amazon?

[KingLudd]

“For everyone reading this article:”

How do you pronounce Lake Wazzapamani?

[Tell It Right]

When I was 20 I thought I was doing good making $6/hour working at a very hot grocery warehouse in hot Alabama with no A/C or fans, and having to pull 150 to 225 cases per hour (depending on what department I worked at that day).

Instead of grumbling about it, I used my 2 off days to go to college and slowly get a real degree I made good money with.

No college or union or walkout can give you the valuable asset second only to having Jesus in your life -- initiative.

[Fai Mao]

SH*t-Cargo

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Try your hand at these:

Oconomowoc

Ixonia

Lake Butte des Morts

[M Kehoe]

Wait till the Biteme admin has to handle a rail strike.

Heads up...

5.56mm

[4yearlurker]

You put your chic in the ca and the ca won't go,and that's how you spell Chicago!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Average American:

“I don’t care about the worker! I just want my STUFF - like, TODAY!”

[1Old Pro]

$20 an hour for pushing boxes around or packing? That’s pretty good for very unskilled labor. Add to that their medical benefits and other benefits and it’s probably $60k per year.