Eagan Amazon Employees Demand Better Working Conditions

EAGAN, MN — Workers at Amazon's Eagan warehouse are demanding safer work conditions from the online retail giant. Employees claim their increasingly demanding jobs have led to dehydration and injuries.

Workers gathered after their shifts at the Awood Center — which advocates for East African laborers — for a news conference Monday.

"We want them to listen to us. We love our work, we love the job that we do," Nimo Hirad told KMSP through an interpreter. "We just want someone to address our concerns and give us the support that we need."

Most of the work involves picking and sorting Amazon packages before loading them for delivery.

Demands include better air conditioning and undoing recent staffing cuts that employees say forced individuals to do the work of an entire team.

Nimo Omar, an organizer with Awood, told Minnesota Public Radio that injuries reported have ranged from workers dropping boxes on their feet to kidney pain.

The retail giant disputed the claims of an unsafe work environment.

“We offer a positive and accommodating workplace for employees at this delivery station, including great pay of more than $15 per hour and benefits," Amazon told Patch through a spokesperson.

"The site is equipped with air conditioning in the break areas and fans throughout the building. We respect the religious practices of employees and offer accommodations as needed. We have a temporary prayer room at this location and are in the process of building a permanent one."

Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images