Former Amazon worker at Tilbury depot claims staff are treated like slaves

Ex-Amazon warehouse worker claims staff are ‘treated like slaves’ and are left so tired by their 10-hour shifts and limited breaks that they ‘walk around like zombies’ and some sleep in the toilets

  • Michael Gabay, 42, described his days at depot in Tilbury, Essex, as ‘hell’ 
  • Says 10-hour night shifts at £10.50 an hour would see workers pack 250k items
  • Female worker claimed staff didn’t call ambulance when package fell on her
  • Amazon claim their largest depot is safe and deny any claim of ill-treatment  

A former employee at Amazon’s largest UK warehouse has claimed staff are ‘treated like slaves’, with many found asleep in the toilets because they are so exhausted.

Michael Gabay, 42, described his time at Amazon’s Tilbury depot in Essex as ‘100 days of hell’. 

He claims his colleagues ‘walked around like zombies’ as they were forced to pack 250,000 items during a 10-hour night shift. 

Some, he says, were unable to use the toilets because over-worked staff used cubicles as places to sleep. 

Former employee Michael Gabay, 42, described his time at Amazon’s Tilbury depot in Essex (pictured) as ‘100 days of hell’

He told the Mirror: ‘Why are people treated like this? [Amazon boss] Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world and this his how his company is run.’ 

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is worth an estimated £118.2billion, with Amazon valued at £730billion. 

But Mr Gabay, who did not pass his probation and no longer works for the company, says warehouse employees paid £10.50 an hour regularly fall ill from over-exertion. 

He also says staff are forced to comply with a ‘power hour’ when managers shout while loud music is played on speakers in a bid to increase productivity. 

Mr Gabay, who joined a union and believes he was not kept on because of his membership, has also claimed workers are denied medical treatment. 

One pregnant woman was not given a break despite being in severe pain, he says. 

Another pregnant employee told the newspaper she was reprimanded for not hitting 120-items-an-hour targets. 

He claims his colleagues (Tilbury depot pictured) 'walked around like zombies' as they were forced to pack 250,000 items during a 10-hour night shift

He claims his colleagues (Tilbury depot pictured) ‘walked around like zombies’ as they were forced to pack 250,000 items during a 10-hour night shift

She said:  ‘I couldn’t go any faster. They’re always putting pressure on.

‘I’d sometimes get a 10-minute break because I was tired, but they have their eye on you.’

One other employee claimed an ambulance was not called after a heavy package fell on her, describing conditions as ‘modern slavery’. 

Their claims come after a Sunday Times investigation found ambulances were scrambled to a UK Amazon warehouse every two days in the last year.

The paper found emergency services were sent at least three times a week to employees who had collapsed or were suffering breathing problems.  

Ambulances were called to an Amazon warehouse in the UK once every two days last year as workers suffered collapses and breathing problems. 

He also says staff are forced to comply with a 'power hour' when managers shout while loud music is played on speakers in a bid to increase productivity. File image of Tilbury depot used

He also says staff are forced to comply with a ‘power hour’ when managers shout while loud music is played on speakers in a bid to increase productivity. File image of Tilbury depot used

The company’s 11 UK warehouses, known as ‘fulfillment centres’, were attended by ambulances 606 times since 2016, it has been claimed.  And in 2018 alone there were 193 ambulance calls.  

Amazon has denied poor working conditions at the Tilbury depot. 

A spokesman told MailOnline:  ‘We do not recognise these allegations as an accurate portrayal of activities in our building. 

‘Tilbury fulfilment centre is a safe and positive workplace providing good jobs for 2,500 permanent employees where all associates receive industry-leading pay, starting at £10.50p/h, and comprehensive benefits from day one.

‘Safety is our number one priority and we take the wellbeing of our associates extremely seriously. We will always call an ambulance if one is required. 

‘Our team of on-site first-aiders follow NHS guidance when an ambulance should be called.

‘We benchmark against UK national data, published by the Health & Safety Executive, confirming we have over 40 per cent fewer injuries on average than other transportation and warehousing businesses in the UK.’ 

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (pictured in Washington DC in September) is worth an estimated £118.2billion, with Amazon valued at £730billion

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (pictured in Washington DC in September) is worth an estimated £118.2billion, with Amazon valued at £730billion

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