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National
Amazon Employee Says He Was Fired For Staging Walkout To Protest Unsafe Conditions
5-Minute Coronavirus Test That Can Be Used Almost Anywhere Wins Emergency FDA Approval
Workers at a Staten Island Amazon warehouse tried to make that point by staging a walkout, which led to the fir- ing of one of the walkout’s or- ganizers on Monday.
NBC reports that Chris Smalls, a management assis- tant at the warehouse facility called JFK8, said he was fired on Monday after he organized a walkout to protest what he and other employees consid- ered a lack of protections for people who still had to go to work after one employee had tested positive for coronavirus last week.
“Amazon would rather fire workers than face up to its total failure to do what it should to keep us, our fami- lies, and our communities safe,” Smalls said in a state- ment. “I am outraged and dis- appointed, but I’m not shocked. As usual, Amazon would rather sweep a problem under the rug than act to keep workers and working commu- nities safe.”
Smalls told CNBC that a l l he and his coworkers were
CHRIS SMALLS
asking for was “a simple build- ing closure and [for] it to be professionally sanitized.” He said that “people were afraid and that’s all we were asking for; nothing more, nothing less.”
A spokesperson from Ama- zon had a different story to tell, confirming to CNBC that Smalls was fired but that it was because he himself was the one creating health risks by violating social distancing guidelines after being given “multiple warnings.”
Abbott Laboratories is un- veiling a coronavirus test that can tell if someone is infected in as little as five minutes, and is so small and portable it can be used in almost any health- care setting.
The medical-device maker plans to supply 50,000 tests a day starting April 1, said John Frels, vice president of re- search and development at Ab- bott Diagnostics. The molecular test looks for frag- ments of the coronavirus genome, which can quickly be detected when present at high levels. A thorough search to definitively rule out an infec- tion can take up to 13 minutes, he said.
Abbott has received emer-
Washington, D. C. – Der- rick Johnson, president and CEO, made the following state- ment about Congressional pas- sage of the $2 trillion stimulus package in response to the coronavirus.
“This legislation is a critical step toward addressing the needs of the American people who are most at risk. After much negotiation, the final version resulted in an im- proved, if incomplete, re- sponse to the litany of harms caused by this crisis.
“But Congress has much more work to do. The NAACP will continue to advocate for a fair and equitable recovery plan for marginalized and under-resourced communities. In providing future relief, Con- gress must prioritize people first, not corporations.
“Impacted communities will undoubtedly need to receive repeat direct cash payments to help them weather this crisis. From workers who have lost their jobs to small businesses that will be forced to close to students drowning in student
COVID-19 TEST
gency use authorization from the U. S. Food and Drug Ad- ministration “for use by au-
DERRICK JOHNSON ...PRESIDENT, NAACP
loan debt, we must ensure the safety of our communities and economy through cash injec- tions and other forms of sup- port, without stipulation, for those that are suffering.
“Additionally, our hospitals and health providers through- out this crisis need continued support to ensure all commu- nities receive testing and treat- ment. We must expand paid family and medical leave for more workers. We must meet
thorized laboratories and pa- tient care settings,” the com- pany said on Friday.
the food and nutrition needs of our most vulnerable families through this treacherous time.
“Above all, while this bill provides a downpayment to se- curing our democracy in this time of crisis, we recognize more robust action is required and quickly. The proposal allo- cates $400 million to protect elections when in reality states need $4 billion — ten times that amount — to ensure se- cure voting. We should not be forced to choose between our health and our vote.
“Congress must signifi- cantly increase funding to states so they may adopt a va- riety of measures to administer elections in a safe and accessi- ble manner. Failing to protect our democracy is not an option in this critical election year.
“The NAACP urges Con- gress to begin work on another COVID-19 response package quickly. For the duration of this crisis, we will continue to fight for measures to protect the health, safety and well- being of underserved and over- looked communities.”
NAACP Calls COVID-19 Stimulus Package A Necessary Step, But Calls Upon Congress To Do More
PAGE 12-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020