If you’re a stower in a delivery station, you know just how chaotic the package belt line can be. When packages aren’t taken off the belt fast enough, they pose a serious safety concern when they fall down into a hamper-  many of us were worried that we might get hit by a pelted package, which could be up to 25 pounds. 

Amazon, of course, thought the solution to these problems was automation, and, a few years ago at DJE 3, installed machinery that was theoretically meant to help us match the insanely fast pace of the belt. But instead, all the expensive machinery did was make the already existing problems worse. 

So, we got together and drafted up a set of demands. First, the pace of work needed to become more reasonable. Amazon needed to either slow the conveyor belt, or reduce the amount of packages one worker is meant to cover, ideally by lowering the amount of aisles per worker. And furthermore, Amazon needed to reduce the weight limit of packages that go onto the belt. No one should have to worry about getting smacked in the head by a 25lb package! 

After we finalized our set of demands, we went out and started sharing these concerns and solutions among our fellow workers. We made several flyers and wrote several messages on the Voice of the Associates (VOA) to help spread awareness within the warehouse. When management began holding surprise all-hands meetings, several of us spoke up, reiterating our safety concerns and our demands. And after we garnered enough public support, six of us went to talk to the manager with our demands and share examples of how Amazon was putting our safety at risk. 

After a few weeks, management finally caved. They agreed to install flashing lights to warn us when a heavy package was about to come down the belt. And management finally reduced the number of aisles per person from four to three. 

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Photo credit: KSBD Amazon Teamsters