AMAZON TUBERCULOSIS OUTBREAK ‘NEEDS PROPER INVESTIGATION’,CONGRESS HEARS

A tuberculosis outbreak at Amazon’s Coventry fulfilment needs a full and through investigation, GMB Congress heard.

Speaking at the union’s annual event in Blackpool today [Monday], Amazon workers spoke of the fear and anxiety caused by the company’s response to the outbreak.

The outbreak of tuberculosis came to light earlier this year at the fulfilment centre, which employs over 3,000 people.

It later emerged the company knew of infections months before staff were told.

Rachel Fagan, GMB Organiser, said:

“Amazon has time and time again been accused of not caring about workers health and safety.

“This outbreak is a national outrage; we cannot allow one of the world’s wealthiest corporations to quietly ignore an outbreak on this scale.

“We called for immediate infection control measures and for staff, Amazon refused to even meet with the workers trade union.

“It’s about the risk to workers, but also the risk to the wider community here in Coventry. We need a national enquiry, with serious resources, to determine how this happened in the first place.

“Six months on from the first reporting on the outbreak we are still no closer to knowing how the company will stop this happening again tomorrow – it is just not good enough”.