AMAZON have been accused of compromising health and safety at their fulfilment centre in Dunfermline while an agency manager complained that staff were “being used as disposable sheep”.

Last week, the Press reported concerns from the GMB union that the company was putting “profit before safety” after warehouse staff were told to work overtime.

That prompted more workers to come forward with further claims – one said there was “very little being done to protect us” from the coronavirus outbreak while another flagged up low pay.

One member of staff, who asked not to be named, contacted us “to make you aware how bad the situation really is at the Amazon warehouse in Dunfermline”.

They said workers on a nightshift last week were gathered together and told there was no food available as there was a problem in the canteen kitchen.

There were rumours that a chef had coronavirus – it turned out they didn’t – and the worker continued: "There were probably around 200 of us gathered in to the small space at reception to announce that the canteen was shut despite the clear guidelines to avoid crowds!

“We are all scared and worried at the way we are being treated even before this happened as there seems to be very little being done to protect us.

"We don’t even have proper hand sanitiser available, the only ones they have is alcohol-free and this has been brought up several times by employees and has been ignored.

"I feel that something needs to be done, and soon, before the situation gets any worse."

A manager at Adecco, one of the agencies that supplies workers for Amazon, told the Press they were “terrified for our jobs if we speak out” but stated: “I can’t sit back and keep letting Amazon and their agency take advantage of me and my colleagues.”

They added: “Amazon are trying to make a big publicity stunt by saying that they are raising wages for all, to cover the fact that they are forcing their staff to keep attending work during the coronavirus outbreak and even work overtime, but that is not true.

“It is only the Amazon blue badges that have been told they will receive the raise.

“Adecco are not committing to it.”

The manager, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Amazon know the agencies are paying their own teams poorly but they are happy to ignore it because they do not get the bad publicity for it.

“They can just blame the agency and say it is not to do with them.

“I am too scared to leave my job because then I will have nothing and I have kids to provide for, but we are tired of being paid so poorly.

“We are tired of Amazon trying to make themselves look good when the truth is we are being used as disposable sheep for their agencies.”

Adecco did not respond to requests for a comment but Amazon said they were paying an additional £2 an hour to all hourly-paid employees, which includes temporary workers, and were taking steps to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

An Amazon spokesperson said: “We place tremendous value and focus on the wellbeing, health and safety of our employees, partners and customers.

“We are strictly following the guidance provided by the government and the local health authorities to ensure we are implementing the right measures in all our sites across the country.

“Our teams are working to ensure we can continue to deliver to the most impacted customers, many of whom have no other way to get priority items.”

They added: “Since the early days of this situation, we have worked closely with local authorities to proactively respond, ensuring we continue to serve customers while taking care of our associates and teams.

“We have also implemented proactive measures at our facilities to protect employees including increased cleaning at all facilities, maintaining social distance in the fulfilment centre, and adding distance between drivers and customers when making deliveries.”

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper every week.

Trusted news has never been so important, and neither has your support.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you to help us provide you with trusted news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

We’re out each week even if you can’t be and so you can also have a replica e-edition of the Press on your PC, phone or tablet ready to read whenever you want. Just click the ‘E-Edition’ tab under the Press masthead on the homepage of this website.

Thank you,

Simon Harris, Editor