Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters), Tuesday’s New York State Attorney General asked a judge to appoint a monitor for worker safety at Amazon.com Inc’s fulfillment center in New York City. The state was referring to the retailer’s alleged rolling back of COVID-19 safety precautions that had been “already inadequate.”

Letitia Jam, the attorney General, wants a court to compel the rehiring Christian Smalls. Smalls was fired from Amazon for leading a march 2020 protest against conditions at Staten Island.

Amazon didn’t immediately reply to our requests for comment.

James is a Democrat who wants to run for New York governor. In February, Amazon sued him in a New York State Court in Manhattan. The suit was over Amazon’s safety protocols that thousands of workers at Staten Island Facility and a New York City distribution centre in Queens.

She claimed that Amazon was putting profit above safety. They are “acting as though the pandemic is over,” she said, by cutting back safety protocols while the Omicron version of the COVID-19 viruses threatens increasing transmission rates.

Rollbacks are made to Staten Island facilities “mask optional” for workers who have been vaccinated. However, they do not require workers with no vaccinations to wear masks. Social distancing is also absent.

James stated in her motion to obtain a preliminary order that the monitor she proposed would supervise improved cleaning, hygiene, and social distancing.

James stated in her motion that Amazon is putting more emphasis on holiday travel and rescinding protections. It is imperative that Amazon’s continuing – and growing – inability to protect workers be stopped.

Seattle-based firm appeals against the October rejection by a New York judge to dismiss James’ suit.

Amazon and California reached separate agreements on Nov. 15, to address claims they violated state law “right-to–know”. This was due to Amazon concealing information from workers at warehouses, as well as local health departments about the COVID-19 infection.