Mostly women of Somali descent, they said they were demanding an increase in wages on the night shift, the reversal of a 30 day workload cap from management, and a weight restriction on boxes. Workers are currently paid $16.25 an hour.
“The workers are very excited because they got something they wanted and because they spoke up. The managers say they will do something, but they didn’t say exactly what,” Kadijo Mohamed, one of the walkout’s organizers, told Vice. “The managers were very angry, and afraid of what the workers did when they stopped stocking,” she continued.
Mohamed added that the workers had chosen to strike because it was the best way to get management’s attention. “The managers don’t listen. They ignore complaints. Sometimes they say, ‘If you can’t handle this job, you can quit,’” she said.
“We are not allowed to work more than 30 hours per week, even though there’s more work,” said a worker in a video of the walkout posted to Workday Minnesota. The worker continued, saying that they have to lift heavy boxes and take time away from their jobs without pay—or medical benefits—when they’re injured doing so.
“We have no value here, they treat us like we are not human,” the worker added.
The workers told Workday Minnesota that they “remain prepared to take action if no changes are made.”
This is the second time that Eagan plant workers have protested working conditions at their plant through walkouts. Two months ago, 80 employees left their jobs to protest parking conditions at the plant. Two hours later, management agreed to expand off-site parking, agreed to repay workers for cars that had been towed while on the job and allowed workers to clock in off-site to avoid being late.
Workers also conducted a strike during Prime Day in response to warehouse working conditions.
