Another letter from ONT6

Open Letter from/to ONT6

This is an open letter from an Amazon.com tier 1 Associate who works at the Ontario 6 Fulfillment Center in Moreno Valley, California. My name is Mark Oglesby (login: moglesby) and I am on the Committee to Unionize the Ontario 6 Fulfillment Center which will happen sooner or later and so I believe that we cannot be stopped! And it is concerning this subject that I would like to address my fellow Workers, Process Assistants, Area Managers, Operations managers, Senior Operations Managers, General Manager and all other Amazon.com operatives around the globe: For your approval or not!

Today I’d like to address the culture of narcissism which exists, not only in our “so-called” leadership positions but furthermore, in our very HR Department which I do believe exists as an “advocate” for the employees but instead our HR representatives are merely “stooges” for the before mentioned “so-called” leadership (i.e., Area Managers and above). What’s at stake?

Here we stand! Alone and bewildered as we face situations in our terms of employment: I’m being unfairly treated by my once again, “so-called” leadership and where do I turn? I have an emergency in my family and I need to be physically there to attend to the matter and it’s going to take days, weeks and or months: Who are you going to call? I’ve been working my heart-out all week and my PA (Area Managers rarely venture forth onto the MODS! “Dangerous and full of bugs!” and so they believe) arrives to inform me that I’m being written up for not posting a computer generated number: I need help! Where to turn? Many have asked but unfortunately the answer always has been:

Human Relations: The HR Department is at the ready to assist but you had better have something simple for them to take care of, as in let us suggest; a missed time punch! Wait, you are told to go to the Hub and do it yourself. Last time I looked, I was in the Pick Department and not HR! What good is HR if those assigned to it aren’t really interested in the good of the employee?

Just heard about a case where the worker (we oppose the term “Associate” as being a word which is a transitive verb meaning: to join as a partner, friend, or companion. [They were closely associated with each other during the war]; to join or connect together [as to combine particles of gold associated with heavy minerals]; to bring together or into relationship in any of various intangible ways [as in memory or imagination. She will always associate that place with her youth.] Intransitive verb as in, to come or be together as partners, friends, or companions; to combine or join with other parts- The Merriam/Webster Dictionary- which HR certainly is not!) who had an emergency and had trouble getting it resolved via our heroic HR Department (They’ll most likely take the “Human” out of Human Relations!) Here’s part of this workers tale:

I had to apply for a personal leave of absence to care for a loved one who had a medical emergency. I’ve been out of work since Sunday. I was told that it can take up to eight days for a decision. I don't have enough time to cover the days I'll be out. So if I get denied I get fired? How hard is it to get approved? I offered medical documents but they weren't interested. I'm just feeling kind of nervous.

Where’s the compassion? Where’s the concern that we hear about all the time at Stand-ups and whatnot throughout our time in the care of Ont6 and Amazon.com in general? In all reality, it won’t be forth-coming as concern for those who labor in the Fields of Fulfillment count as little in comparison to policies set by FC-chain wide management who wish to keep the populace in its place. And what place might that be?

Bullied, afraid, unsure about what is legal and what’s on the fringe of legality while simply attempting to keep ones head above water while navigating the troubled seas entitled: Ontario 6 Fulfillment Center operated by Amazon.com or TheMightyCom as I like to call it!

To close, this is one of many true stories of the treatment merited out to those of us seeking someone who will actually help us during times of trouble and the stress which follows. In short, that ain’t you HR who should be there first and foremost for the workers (not associates: see above) but instead are ready, willing and able to give it their all for management in order to keep up pace with their given “quotas” Unquote!

So please, anyone out there got an HR story to tell, please contact the committee to Unionize Ont6 at organizeont6@gmail.com

Thank you:

Mark Oglesby (login: moglesby)