After a deadly warehouse collapse in Illinois, Amazon staff say a ban on phones at work denies access to emergency alerts and a way to contact first responders
- Online retailer is returning to a cell phone ban in warehouses — Workers say they want access to weather alerts, communication
Bloomberg Spencer Soper
Related Coverage
- At Amazon Site, Tornado Collided With Company's Peak Delivery Season New York Times
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- Warehouse Collapse in Edwardsville Is Making Workers Question Amazon's Purported Phone Ban at Work Gizmodo · Jody Serrano
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- Amazon employees speak out against controversial phone ban after deadly tornado kills at least 6 warehouse workers in Edwardsville, Illinois Insider · Bethany Biron
- Several killed when tornado damages Amazon warehouse in Illinois YouTube
- Amazon warehouse collapses after tornado leaves at least two dead Reuters · Ramishah Maruf
- At least two dead after ‘severe weather event’ at Illinois Amazon warehouse NBC News · Rhoda Kwan
- 2 dead at Edwardsville Amazon warehouse hit by storm as search and rescue continues KSDK-TV · Amri Wilder
- Amazon warehouse hit by tornado, 2 confirmed dead, report says CNET · Edward Moyer
- Live Updates: Tornadoes Leave Trail of Devastation Across Six States, With Scores Dead New York Times
- Candle factory had been ‘going 24/7’ to meet Christmastime demand. Then the storm hit CNN
- Tornado rips through Amazon warehouse in Illinois, causing deaths GeekWire · Taylor Soper
- Deaths are confirmed at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois that took a direct hit. New York Times
- Powerful Tornadoes Leave at Least 70 Dead Across 6 States Gizmodo · Brian Kahn
- More than 70 dead as tornadoes sweep through six US states Financial Times · Dave Lee
Discussion
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@jeffschuhrke
Jeff Schuhrke
on x
Amazon bans workers from bringing their smartphones into warehouses, which means they can't access updates/warnings on potentially deadly weather events: “After these deaths, there is no way in hell I am relying on Amazon to keep me safe.” https://www.bloomberg.com/...
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@brian_callaci
Brian Callaci
on x
FedEx workers could not contact loved ones during the mass shooting in IN because of similar policies. USPS has no such policy. No reasonable basis for goods-sorting facilities to have these rules, just power. https://www.npr.org/... https://twitter.com/...
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@davehclark
Dave Clark
on x
We're deeply saddened by the news that members of our Amazon family passed away as a result of the storm in Edwardsville, Illinois. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone who has been impacted by the storm's path across the U.S.
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@lorenasgonzalez
Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher
on x
Can you imagine your employer denying you the right to even access emergency alerts? Tornadoes, flash floods, fires, earthquakes... whatever the emergency. Blue-collar workers deserve the ability to have this information in real time. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
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@econhardship
@econhardship
on x
“'After these deaths, there is no way in hell I am relying on Amazon to keep me safe,' said one worker from a neighboring Amazon facility in Illinois. ‘If they institute the no cell phone policy, I am resigning.’” https://www.bloomberg.com/...
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@s_m_i
Stacy-Marie Ishmael
on x
2. “An https://amazon.com/ Inc. warehouse collapse on Friday night that killed at least six people has amplified concerns among its blue collar workforce about the return of the internet retailer's mobile phone ban in work areas."https://www.bloomberg.com/ ...
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@vv1lder
Emily Wilder
on x
this part: “Amazon founder Jeff Bezos...only fueled such feelings by spending the earlier part of Saturday celebrating a celebrity space launch by his company Blue Origin while emergency crews at the warehouse dug through rubble looking for bodies.” https://www.bloomberg.com/... …
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@davehclark
Dave Clark
on x
We're continuing to provide support to our employees and partners in the area and across the communities affected by the storms. We also want to thank all of the first responders for their ongoing efforts on the scene.
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@orientaljanedoe
Jane Chung
on x
https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
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@ajassy
Andy Jassy
on x
We've been closely monitoring the terrible situation in Edwardsville, and are heartbroken over the loss of our team members. Our thoughts are with their families at this difficult time. (1/2)
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@emilylhauser
@emilylhauser
on x
I just really, really did not think, when I was in school and learning about the Gilded Age, that we would see another age of Robber Barons. https://twitter.com/...
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@historerin
Erin
on x
not having phones on the floor of a warehouse w power equipment is pretty standard...but my best friend's warehouse pretty much emptied before anything bad bc the management was paying attn on behalf of those w/o cells. and then sent them home bc people > profits. https://twitter…
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@brianstelter
Brian Stelter
on x
“I don't know who's watching. Y'all please send us some help. We are trapped. The wall is stuck on me. Nobody can get to us. Y'all. Pray for us.” -Kyanna Parsons-Perez, trapped in the Mayfield candle factory after the tornado, speaking on Facebook Live https://www.cnn.com/...
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@brandoncopicwx
Brandon Copic
on x
Looks like my Facebook Live got one of the best shots of the tornado as it was crossing I-55 near Hayti, MO. @ryanhallyall @VinceWaelti @ReedTimmerAccu https://twitter.com/...
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@melissajpeltier
Melissa Jo Peltier
on x
Amazon is like a factory sweat shop, it seems. https://twitter.com/...
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@jillmakesstuff
Jill Draper
on x
How are all the journalists letting Amazon say they don't know how many people were there? I assume like every other hourly job ppl clock in on a computer. https://twitter.com/...
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@nantarsya
Nantina Vgontzas
on x
In the last 6 months, Amazon has repeatedly refused to shut down warehouses in the midst of extreme weather events: the June heatwave, Ida in September, now this tornado. There are injuries and reports of deaths in the warehouse. Fucking nightmare. https://twitter.com/...
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@rvawonk
Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D
on x
“Witnesses said workers were caught by surprise and forced to take shelter anywhere they could find.” https://www.reuters.com/...
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@davehclark
Dave Clark
on x
Thoughts and prayers going out to our team in Edwardsville tonight and thank you to all the first responders.
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@charlesjaco1
Charles Jaco
on x
Emergency response officials in the IL suburbs of St Louis say “50 to 100” Amazon workers are trapped under rubble or inside a mammoth Amazon warehouse/fulfillment center in Edwardsville, IL after walls collapsed following a tornado.
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@capitolfax
Rich Miller
on x
Witnesses tell Reuters the tornado caught Amazon workers by surprise. Amazon says otherwise, but the building appears torn to shreds https://www.reuters.com/... https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
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@aschwortz
Dr. Andria C. Schwortz
on x
.@amazon why was this workplace still open when they knew there were active tornadoes nearby? Why weren't they seeking shelter? https://twitter.com/...
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@women4ubi
@women4ubi
on x
Reason for an unconditional universal #BasicIncome number 2929383923929388239430054: .@Amazon forced employees to go to work during *tornado warnings* and *PEOPLE DIED* https://twitter.com/...
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@ireneista
Irenes
on x
So in this Amazon warehouse collapse, they don't even know who's missing because they don't have a list of who they forced to work *during the tornado*. https://www.reuters.com/...
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@rafaelshimunov
Raf
on x
It is now 6 Amazon workers reported dead. With rescue ops continuing for three more days. https://www.reuters.com/...
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@t1merickson
Tim Erickson
on x
Do @amazon warehouses have tornado shelters? If not, should they? https://twitter.com/...
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@herosnvrdie69
@herosnvrdie69
on x
Amazon knew we were facing life threatening storms last night. We ALL knew. They made the choice to send workers into a giant unsecured warehouse and now workers are dead. Amazon murdered people last night. https://twitter.com/...
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@erininthemorn
@erininthemorn
on x
I was tracking the tornado with friends last night. The Amazon warehouse had HOURS of lead time. The fact that Amazon still required people to show up to their shifts in a tornado warning and didn't shut things down is a travesty. These deaths could have been prevented. https://t…
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@katystoll
Katy Stoll
on x
Can't get over the fact that people were in that warehouse at all last night, when there was a Tornado Warning. But also the Amazon warehouse was only two years old. I know nothing about Tornados, but should a brand new building crumple like that?
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@ajassy
Andy Jassy
on x
(2/2) As this situation continues to evolve, I want our Edwardsville community to know we are working closely with local officials & first responders to support them. My deepest sympathies are with the Amazon community and all impacted.
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@emilygorcenski
Extremily Gorcenski
on x
“Amazon warehouse... mass casualty event” is a phrase that was probably ab inevitability but that doesn't remove the sting of seeing it for the first time. https://twitter.com/...
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@blkahn
Brian Kahn
on x
This is the third time in six months Amazon workers have been working in the path of deadly weather. Warehouse workers also had to go in during record-smashing heat in the PNW and the deadly Ida floods in NYC. Just like those disaster, last night's tornadoes were well forecast ht…
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@danmcconchie
Dan McConchie
on x
My uncle works across the street from this Amazon warehouse. Thankfully, he is fine, but there are others who are not. Please pray for those who are injured and lost. https://www.reuters.com/...
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@realgregkarnes
Greg Karnes
on x
Many trapped after Amazon warehouse roof collapse near U.S. city of St. Louis ...I've often wondered if huge warehouses built in Tornado Alley can withstand even small tornados... https://www.reuters.com/...
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@punishedgsus
G Sus
on x
something folks who've never worked in a warehouse may not know is these places are all death traps they put in tons of layers of security so you can't steal anything, know how hard it is to get out fast if you need to? https://twitter.com/...
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@tweetsbylucien
@tweetsbylucien
on x
I'm on the east coast and *i* knew these tornados were gonna hit. These companies do not care https://twitter.com/...
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@tcarmody
Tim Carmody
on x
About fifty Amazon workers were in a 400,000 sq-ft warehouse outside St Louis when a tornado struck. “The tornado caused the collapse of a wall the size of a football field at the warehouse, along with the roof above it.” There are confirmed fatalities. https://www.nytimes.com/..…
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@joshuapotash
@joshuapotash
on x
At least 2 people died in there, and more are unaccounted for, because Amazon forced them to work last night, despite tornado warnings, just like they forced people to work in heat waves last summer, just like they forced people to work through covid. Amazon is killing workers. h…