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March 20, 2020

New York City Workers Revolt over Lack of Coronavirus Safety Protections
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In Queens, New York, Amazon employees shut down a fulfillment center
after a worker tested positive for COVID-19. The confirmed case came two
days after 1,500 Amazon workers around the world called publicly for
Amazon to adopt stronger safety measures. In Brooklyn, employees of the
retail store Art To Frames held a protest outside their shop yesterday
to demand more protections.

Digna Isabel Rivera: "My name is Isabel. We're out here of Art To Frames
because this morning we came in asking for something so simple as a
mask, gloves, hand sanitizer to protect ourselves from the coronavirus.
We were denied. We were told that there is no more masks. We were told
that there is no more hand sanitizer, that they couldn't get it. We gave
the manager the opportunity to give us a solution, and his only solution
was, 'Whoever wants to stay can stay, whoever wants to go can go, but
we're not paying you for your time off.' … I have kids that I have to
take care of. I have kids that I have to go home to and that I have to
support. I'm here, and I come here to work, because I need to provide
for them. And I'm going to be bringing germs to them? And I'm going to
go home to be - not to bring germs to them, I'm going to stay home with
them, but with what income, if my company, my employer, is not willing
to pay me?"



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