Amazon workers stir controversy during Prime Day sale, delay delivery trucks in protest against working conditions

Amazon workers walked out of a main distribution centre in Minnesota on Monday, protesting for improved working conditions during e-commerce titan's major "Prime" shopping event. Amazon workers picketed outside facility, briefly delaying a few trucks and waving signs with messs along lines of "We're human, t robots."

"We kw Prime Day is a big day for Amazon, so we hope this strike will help executives understand how serious we are about wanting real change that will uplift workers in Amazon's warehouses," striker Safiyo Mohamed said in a release.

"We create a lot of wealth for Amazon, but y aren't treating us with respect and dignity that we deserve." Organizers did t disclose number of strikers, who said employees picketed for about an hour in intense heat before cutting protest short due to onset of heavy rain.

strike was part of an ongoing effort to pressure company on issues including job safety, equal opportunity in workplace, and concrete action on issues including climate change, according to community organization Awood Center. US Democratic presidential contenders Kamila Harris and Bernie Sanders were among those who expressed support for strikers on Twitter.

"I stand in solidarity with courous Amazon workers engaging in a work stopp against unconscionable working conditions in ir warehouses," Sanders said in a tweet.

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"It is t too much to ask that a company owned by wealthiest person in world treat its workers with dignity and respect." Amazon employees also went on strike at seven locations in Germany, demanding better ws as US online retail giant launched its two-day global shopping discount extravaganza called Prime Day.

Amazon h said in vance that strike would t affect deliveries to customers. Amazon has consistently defended work conditions, contending it is a leer when it comes to paying workers at least $15 hourly and providing benefits. company last week anunced plans to offer job training to around one-third of its US workforce to help m gain skills to apt to new techlogies.

Amazon has been hustling to offer one-day deliver on a wider array of products as a perk for paying $119 annually to be a member of its "Prime" service, which includes streaming films and television shows. work action came on opening day of a major "Prime" shopping event started in 2015.

w in 17 countries, event will span Monday and Tuesday, highlighted by a pre-recorded Taylor Swift video concert and promotions across a range of products and services from e-commerce leer.

Prime Day sales for Amazon are expected to hit $5 billion this year, up from $3.2 billion in 2018, which at time represented its biggest ever global shopping event, JP Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth says in a research te.