Amazon employees want mobile phone access after tornadoes hit warehouse

An Amazon warehouse collapse due to a
string of tornadoes on Friday night, that killed at least six people, raised
concerns among its workforce about the return of the internet retailer’s mobile
phone ban in work areas.

Also Read: ‘Heartbroken’ over deaths at Amazon warehouse due to tornado: Jeff Bezos

The warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois,
near St. Louis, was ravaged by tornadoes, which ripped through six states in
the central US. Emergency responders expect recovery efforts to continue into
next week.

Also Read: Monstrous tornado hits Kentucky hard as storms leave dozens dead in 5 states

According to Bloomberg, Amazon had for
years prohibited workers from carrying their phones on warehouse floors,
requiring them to leave them in vehicles or employee lockers before passing
through security checks that include metal detectors. The company backed off
during the pandemic but has been gradually reintroducing it at facilities
around the country

Also Read: Biden will do ‘whatever needed’ to help states affected by tornadoes

Five Amazon employees said they want access
to information such as updates on potentially deadly weather events through
their smartphones without interference from Amazon. The phones can also help
them communicate with emergency responders or loved ones if they are trapped,
they said.

Also Read: Kentucky faces ‘most devastating tornado’ in history

“After these deaths, there is no way in hell
I am relying on Amazon to keep me safe,” said one worker from a neighbouring
Amazon facility in Illinois. “If they institute the no cell phone policy, I am
resigning.”

Another worker from an Amazon warehouse in
Indiana said she is using up her paid time off whenever the company decides to
remain open despite warnings of extreme weather events. Having her phone with
her is critical to making those decisions, especially about sudden tornado
risks, she said.

Also Read: 10 deadliest tornadoes in United States since 1900

“I don’t trust them with my safety to be
quite frank,” she said. “If there’s severe weather on the way, I think I should
be able to make my own decision about safety.”

Amazon, however, declined to address the
concerns raised by workers about its mobile phone policy, saying its focus now
is “on assisting the brave first responders on the scene and supporting our
affected employees and partners in the area.”