The Seattle-based company Amazon has been exposed for unsafe
working conditions at a shipping plant in Lehigh Valley, Pa. Workers have been
forced to work at unreasonable speeds for extended periods of time in scorching
hot weather. These allegations surfaced after an area doctor reported treating
several people for heat-related illness.
These workers hold temporary positions and face losing their jobs if they
slow down or complain. Temp companies have plenty of backup workers available, especially during such a deep economic crisis,
putting pressure on the workers to comply with harsh demands and dangerous conditions or risk being
out of work.
With an official unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, but in
reality far higher, workers lack bargaining power and are being exploited more
than ever by an opportunistic capitalist class seeking to capitalize on the
shortage of jobs. Employers put profit before people and risk workers’ lives to
get richer. Workers deserve better; we deserve socialism.
