Amy's Kitchen Workers EXPOSE Dangerous Conditions At Work
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- Опубліковано 24 лют 2022
- The workers who make Amy’s Kitchen burritos are forced to work over 8hrs a day, 6 days a week, and wrap 10+ burritos a minute. They say that rapid speeds and company neglect have led to repetitive stress injuries and chronic pain. They’re unionizing with the Teamsters to change that.
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I also worked for an abusive employer who told me "we'll treat you like family". that phrase is a red flag.
Any job that says were all like family is toxic I didn’t get hired to be like family that’s too personal for me a lot of those jobs have a bunch of narcissist ppl working there
Damn! I used to love Amy's kitchen. But they were always so expensive for frozen meals. And now I'm definitely not supporting this brand until they pay and treat their workers better .
Their pizzas are good. But very expensive
After watching a nicely made video from the union. Ok lol
Don't ever support this brand again if you can help it.....I've worked in the Pocatello branch, and it is corrupt....I've worked there long enough to be promised over and over that things will change. They do this repetitive dance with their employees to give them false hope and boost productivity. So please, just look for other options if you can..you have no idea how much it made my blood boil when Andy mentioned, "dropping the rules" when in reality, they'll drop you.
Thank you for this.
I’m vegan and have purchased Amy’s for years.
That stops now.
This is disgusting.
Same here. I buy their vegan products. Not anymore now that I’ve seen this
Me as well, this is so horrible, those ladies should start their own company and bet it could do better than Amy's.
@@trainmusic5388 A worker's co-op for them would be amazing. I hope we start seeing more things like that here in the U.S.
Not buying anymore either, just horrible
If they Unionize and get a fair contract then you could reconsider buying until then f*ck this company!
That "family line," always makes me cringe 🤥
Seemed disingenuous to me.
Sounded more like trying to overemphasize their trustworthiness.
@@GreatMindsSeekTruth I work for them, the managers are the most disengenous and inauthentic people I've encountered in my 48 year work history.
Nepotism is also a huge factor.
@@roamnomo6333 yeah we've known them through RS for decades and I know there is nepotism and other similar factors. I can cook just as good as their food and, although I've known them for 35 + years I don't buy their stuff. It's too expensive. that alone should tell you their values
Same. Those are usually the worst- that is just used to manipulate you into working harder. But they won't treat you like family the moment it becomes inconvenient
Unfortunately I don't buy Amy's, so I can't boycott until they accept the union but solidarity for sure.
United We Bargain, divided we beg. ✊🏽👷🏽♀
FUCK IS THERE JUST ONE COMPANY I CAN BUY FROM?!?!
The lesson here is "no"
There is no ethical consumption under capitalism. We cannot reform our way out of this. The system needs to change.
I was afraid you'd say that. Damn.
Beware any company that sells a feeling.
@@thelegalsystem communism. Tried before. Doesn't work.
Buy local & do lots of research. I feel your pain... it's so frustrating!
Woot! Unionize! Stop the abuse! I've been in a union for over a decade, and the tiny amount that goes toward the union in dues has long been made up for by the better pay, better working conditions, and fighting management abuses all done by the union. I have been a steward helping my co-workers as well.
Illegals cant unionize, atheyre not supposed to be employed in tge first place.
They make you sign a contract that you agree not to unionize or you'll get terminated if they hear you talking about it
Although Amy's claims that these employees are "family', they treat them like machines by speeding up production lines so they end up getting injured. After that, they have the nerve to put them back on the same line where they got injured? How sick is that?
It's clear their idea of "family" is an abusive one.
Ok and how do you know that they are on the same line.?? And what do you want them to do if that's the only line they can probably do without doing anything heavy. The line speed isn't a problem if you do the job how you are trained. It's called good work place ergonomics. Some people don't follow it and get hurt.
@@calixkinggaming7275 how's that boot taste?
@@atomic66 lol good one. You most likely are a teamster or some union worker looking for some money. I believe your calling me a boot leaker right. For standing up to the union and it's BS. So they can find that 3 or 5 year contract to suck the money out of the employees. You can leak the unions boot if you want.
Disgusting. Beware of Companies talking about everyone being a family.
What’s about Family Dollar ?
Im absolutely disheartened 😩 I am allergic to wheat, and purchase their rice/corn based products. I will NO LONGER be taking my business to Amy's. I will protest with my wallet.
There are so many corporations like this. Don't buy premade food. First of all, it's terrible for you, and second of all, the workers are typically treated like this.
What food is made ethically tho
Ironically, as a busy person who hasn't seriously learned to cook, instant/microwave meals are the squarest, cheapest meals I can make in my busy life and have time left to relax and get to work on time.
I think there is a world where pre-packaged food can be ethical. I think it comes to equity. If you don't level up the lowest person in a society, there will be some ethics problem in your life. It will find a way back to you. No-one has clean hands in an unequal society, no matter what choices they make.
I'll buy from a slightly better company if I am confident in their work practices. I can make my difference even if it's a small one funding companies that do it right. But yeah, unions, like this channel is all about. Labor rights laws. We gotta lift regular workers up, otherwise it's always gonna be something. If it's not one thing it's something else wrong.
(And good companies watching this going "well that takes too long" don't wait! Don't wait for the laws to change! Don't wait for the union. Give the workers a raise today. Give them lower production targets and/or hire bigger teams for the same targets. Taking less profit and instead investing it back in the workers directly is an easy and effective form of "charity," more effective than any "charity" org. Make the world a better place. And as Ford said, you want your workers to be able to afford your product... Maybe they will spend a bit on your own product. But really you'll benefit from having a happier workplace. It does the heart a lot of good for others around you to be healthy and well and satisfied.)
When somebody is mistreated around you, it comes back to you and makes your life less good. We gotta have equity or we all suffer for it.
And in a way, it's easy. Just have the managers and the owners and investors take a little less and spread it around to the budget for pay/compensation/absorbing the impact of slower lines, time off, and sick days for workers. Then without squeezing workers as hard, you can still make your product or service and balance the company budget. It's not magic, although the good it does *feels* like magic. Just a little less greed, just a little better balance for your company and you can treat workers really well.
There is a lot of talk about tightening belts and making do with less. I know who has to do it: It's the managers, owners and investors. They need to tighten the belt just a little so they can make a lot of difference to the workers (and indirectly other workers such as suppliers).
Are you gonna send fresh groceries to people who live in food deserts?
Do please spare a thought for disabled people (among others) - eating is better for you than not eating and with the executive function I (don't) have, it's convenience foods or go hungry. And as others have pointed out, the ethical consumption options we have tend to be Bad, Bad, or Worse, and boycotts are rarely an effective substitute for the corporate regulation we actually need.
That said, I will definitely be limiting my Amy's purchases now, for the same reason I limit Amazon purchases - not because I really think I'm changing anything, and I don't judge people who still buy from them, but as one small form of collective protest that also eases my personal discomfort. More or less the same reason I'm a vegetarian too!
I don't want to, but I'm seriously disabled and can't cook. Any recommendations for companies that are not horrific, I am all ears (of course I am DONE with Amy's)
I’ve seen their products in the grocery the past year or so now and have come close to buying some but thankfully I never did!! I’m so glad something stopped me.
Hopefully this will shine some light on how they are treating the real family that’s making them rich while these women get worked to death!!
Damn, I like Amy's products, but I'm boycotting them until this changes.
Me too
No change is needed my friend just people looking for attention. Sorry if this video that only tells one side of the story made you feel this way.
@@calixkinggaming7275 I'm shocked, shocked that a channel devoted to workers actually talks about the workers and doesn't give the corporate line.
@@wvu05 I'm shocked that you can watch something and not see the BS in front of you. Its a union scam happens all the time that's why you need to do some research on what you sign.
@@wvu05 union is trash they don't care for the workers they only want money.
ALWAYS STAND UP FOR YOURSELF! NO ONE ELSE WILL! UNFORTUNATELY AMERICA PUTS CORPORATE PROFITS WAY ABOVE HUMAN LIFE!! ☮️✊🏽💪🏼
Wow. Such a virtuous and empathetic person you are. How stunning and brave for you to make such a profound absolutely 100% totally never heard before statement.
Solidarity to you ladies and every other worker who is suffering.
It is especially gross when a company presents itself as a conscientious brand and you find out that this is how they treat their employees!!! I was willing to pay more for Amy’s bc I bought their BS branding but given they aren’t willing to pay more to keep true to their brand… union busting? Really Amy’s?? Honestly, half of my kitchen was Amy’s Kitchen but I haven’t bought it since I first heard of this a couple months ago and typically I try to reward a company after they meet the needs of their worker’s but after this idk- they betrayed their customers in my opinion. It’s like finding out after a decade+ of eating their vegetarian options that every dish they ever sold used animal fat instead of oil. I have to assume the VP is the daughter, bc no one that young has that type of position without good ole nepotism, and I bet she makes more than all the women featured in this combined which is even more infuriating. I swear to god if I hear about any retaliation against these workers… I already feel gross I supported this company for so long and won’t purchase them again regardless, but I will make it a purpose in my life to inform others how ugly and full of bs this company is to counter all the times I’ve recommended them in the past.
There should be a consumer reports type annual report of companies with honest evaluations from employees about the conditions and ratings- they only get away with this bs bc they think the product/price is the only thing consumers care about but there are a lot of folks out there who care about people more than profits and find this (and how common it is) appalling!
The juxtaposition of the corporate BS with the workers reality is an awesome way to open the video!
My coop grocery stopped selling any Amy's products.
I hope they successfully unionize!
Corporate greed is a major American stain on humanity. Boycott!
Is there any way I can pitch in funds to support the workers in their effort to unionize?
'Because if we don't speak out, this will continue happening' - Janet Barcenas, Amy's Kitchen Worker
I thought those shits went out of business. Too bad they didn't. They all need to walk out and unionize.
I buy Amy's gluten free meals for my son with celiac, but as of now--until this company unionizes, I am boycotting.
I wish the best to these employees--they are human beings, not flippin robots!
Give them 2 days off every week, a living wage and medical benefits.
CEOs: that's what "love" looks like
Yes! I felt good about supporting Amy's because it was a Certified B corporation. Apparently that means nothing
They make you sign a contract when you get hired that you will not talk about a union or even consider unionization
Honestly, I could make better for less. Whenever you hear we treat our employees like family, you know it’s a toxic work environment. The fact that all the people are ESL tells you something as well.
I noticed this as well, yet nobody is saying anything. Not to mention it seems like they barely speak English. They’re being taken advantage of
Thank you for this eye opening expose and I commend these workers for their courage. I was already becoming skeptical about Amy's after realizing the company uses the old bait and switch marketing ploy-by labeling vegetarian frozen meals like Lasagna-Organic, while using non-organic cheese, yet still charging premium prices. Now to find out they are screwing over their workers. It calls the entire integrity of the company into question right. Maybe Amy's Kitchen is also misrepresenting the salt and sugar content of their foods to make it appear healthier than it is? Thanks but no thanks.
How are the workers being screwed? Because they have to work? The complaints these women are making don't equate to them being treated badly. It sounds like excuses to force the company to pay to be extorted.
I had pieces of rubber in burritos. Never buying again. There are other places to work. Or union. This company has not maintained integrity. Or quality. Shape up or you will lose your company.
And their pizzas have gone from 14oz to 12oz. Do not buy - it’s not worth it. Shameful. Consumers are smart and attentive Amy’s. 😢
Not the whole “we are a family” 🙄
Sounded a bit too conscripted.
Like they are trying to over emphasize trustworthiness in hopes to bolster their integrity.
Amy's Kitchen employees should be represented by a collective bargaining agreement. Workers must be paid a living wage made eligible for healthcare and pension benefits.
I have been an Amy's Kitchen customer for decades, but I will boycott Amy's Kitchen products until working conditions improve and dangerous conditions are rectified.
Pretty sure illegals cant unionize.
With your neo marxist ideology who would ever start companies? Everyone just expects to be employed. To be an employer is massively more difficult more risky and more of a sacrifice. Neo Marxists just want to take from the most hard working people to give to employees who have not given their lives to build something... then when neo Marxists don't get what they want they complain
This is terrible to hear. I buy lots of their products.
Well, stop buying them.
Anyone know the status of the unionizing efforts?
It's pretty simple, IF the workers have been pushed so far, that they have to go to a Union for help, then the company has failed them. There are non-union companies that have few worker issues,... WHy? BECAUSE THEY TREAT THEIR PEOPLE LIKE VALUED ASSETS !!! The way to keep a UNION out of your business is to treat your people well. Pretty simple.
Oh, man, I didn't know this abut Amy's Kitchen.
Got to love Amy's marketing.
We've eaten Amy's for years until I heard about these employee issues/ mistreatment a couple weeks ago. We will never buy any of their products again! In addition, the last thing I heard was that they fired these employees. I know this video is from a year ago so I was curious about an update/follow up.
Wow I had no idea! Amy’s has been apart of my groceries for years. That stops now
Why? Why are all the products lined up in the background???
I wasn't expecting to find this. Looking up Amy after I served myself one of there soups. I won't ever be purchasing this brand again
Wtf??? I love their frozen burritos. I add avocado, hot sauce and cheese and it’s the perfect easy meal. Not buying anymore!
Teamster power !..
I will tell everyone I know about them. Just disgusting to watch the daughter make that snarky statement.
Amy’s is my favorite brand of organic vegetarian convenience food 😢
I JUST got used to not buying from Nestlè now I gotta boycott Amy’s too!?!?!?!😭
I’ll do it but this stress is really starting to cripple me
Imagine being this brainwashed
To all the people suspecting this is a shakedown for higher pay, the workers' main complaint was about SAFETY, as the Teamsters noted in their complaint. The 6 OSHA complaints logged on the Teamster's website doesn't exactly make them look all cutesy earthy crunchy, more like crunchy employee injuries...🙄And there were MORE OSHA complaints after that in 2022 as well: KQED reporting with "California Regulators Fine Amy's Kitchen $25,000 for Safety Violations" by Farida Jhabvala Romero, Aug 8, 2022.
OSHA is a joke and they’re not (I repeat NOT) on the employee’s side. The truth is that companies would much rather you complain to a government agency like OSHA because they know OSHA won’t do shit rather than filling a private claim (lawsuit). And the reason why is all OSHA did here was fine Amy’s $25,000 and then considered the matter closed. That’s a drop in the bucket to them. Imagine a company like them having to pay millions to people they’ve hurt. And then the field day the media would have on them during their court trials. And also having to hire a PR team to clean their mess and rebuild their image. I can assure you that PR teams don’t work for cheap. Again, OSHA is not on your side!
25,000 that's nothing to a business like them what a joke. That's a slap on the hand.
I have been eating Annie’s products for years when they first came out with mac & cheese. I am deeply disturbed by this and getting the word out. It’s hard for me to boycott it because there’s very little food that I can eat and this is one of the few that work. I called CF foods today and they said they didn’t know anything about it so I enlightened him. He asked what i wanted him to do about it and I said I expect you to call the company and have a talk with them. He said that he’d find someone to call me which I’m assuming is a brush off. But I’m going to keep on this. It is not acceptable to have people working in those conditions and treat them like crap. The irony I guess is that I was eating an Annie’s noodle bowl while watching the video. I have shared on Facebook, let’s clean house!
This is Amy’s brand, they mainly do frozen meals and soups, not Annie’s brand which is the one with the bunny mascot
@@__hokage1037 feeling stupid. Thanks for the clarification!
@@kiyacosan5591 no need to feel stupid. They both cater to the same things, like organic and veganism. Very easy to get them mixed up :)
@@kiyacosan5591 Honestly I get them confused sometimes too because their branding and packaging is very similar. I also use to buy both, when I lived up north. :)
How old is the vice president? 12 ? 00:48
Amy's Kitchen is a family-owned business and can do as it pleases. I am a pro-union vegan and can do as I please as well. Therefore, I am boycotting Amy's Kitchen's products as my 2023 New Year's resolution!
Eh. Their chili wasn’t that good anyway. No skin off my nose, I’ll get my chili and whatnot elsewhere.
Was watching a video from a UA-camr and in it she was reviewing an Amy Kitchen product that she had in her freezer for awhile. She mentioned that the company was in some deep "do, do" and after doing my own research and watching this video I will not be supporting anymore. I would usually get their products when they would be on sale.
i used to enjoy their meals when i was in college!
What a shame.
My heart goes out to these women.
This sucks to see. I like Amy's products
I'm actually disappointed but at the same time not surprised.
Amy's Kitchen is more like Amy's Baking Company from Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, but worse.
Could it be that maybe they're coming out and doing this for money?? Be skeptical of both sides...
Amys doesn't pay enough go look up the average income of a laborer not the white men that sit upstairs
It's the state of California that created this mess. Making California a sanctuary city was the worst thing they ever did. People have been taken advantage of for over 30 years and they are not going to do anything about it.
Gross food. Gross practices. I'm so glad they have brave people like them. I hope their voices gain ground and the rest of the employees join in to make the union happen.
They're the ones making the food, and yet they have no say over how the profits are divided. In the short-term, I hope they can unionize. In the long-term, I want every company to be worker-owned.
Interesting neo marxist idea. Tried before. Never works.
Who can treat a person like this!?
Strike! Occupy! Take that plant and shut it down until demands are metal!
I'm no longer a customer!!
The family thing they've mentioned, sounded differently to me. It sounds like "we are only a small family company and can do what we want". Nah, sorry. There must be laws in place. And I have my doubts regarding Amy's hygiene. There are many reports online about product recalls regarding listeria (some form of bacteria, more commonly in cheese, gives you terrible diarrhoea which can lead to death in sick or frail people), some ingredients are not declared and some meals contain preservatives. However, I live in continental Europe and sampled once the chunky tomato soup. It's delicious and I've bought at a health shop another tin (over triple the price of similar other ones). Guess what, today I had belly cramps and diarrhoea and still don't feel OK after an hour (while I'm writing this). To be honest, I ate a lot of nuts before the soup as I was hungry and had workers in the house, no time for cooking or even a sandwich. So it could be from the nuts. But for to be on the safe side and after reading this about the employees, I will never buy anything from this "family" company again.
What a disgusting company
So why are they treating their employees like crap?
They aren't.
Just typical of some people with too much money!
Never buying Amy's again. I am so sorry. I didn't know.
Won’t buy from them anymore.
I just noticed the price went up to $6.29.
All set.
Esta gente buscando hacer dinero facil🙄. Want to make a quick buck with this allegations.
!Pobrecitas!
I love Amy's but I will NOT support a company that treats their employees like this. Amy's better get it together before this spirals out of control.
Imagine only getting one side of the story and thinking you are informed. you buffoons are so gullible.
I will no longer but this product
I pushed carts for a while and my arm was killing me after the first few weeks. And I only got payed minimum. They have the option to go work somewhere else.
“Pull yerself up by yer bootstraps” *-someone that can’t even push carts*
Awesome. Coming from someone that actually _has_ pulled themselves up by their boot straps: No one should have to go through what I went through. Period. Have a terrible day.
Food production is care work. I couldn't even guess how many times Amy's workers have fed me. I've been vegetarian since 2004 and unable to consistently feed myself since... all time, so their brutally hard, criminally undercompensated labor has kind of kept me alive. The value of their care labor has been stolen from them and their subjugation leveraged to trap them for hoarded profit. They and all people deserve safety, comfort, leisure, and prosperity.
If any of you are reading, I'm so sorry, I'm so angry, I see and support you, and I want to help if I can. And thanks for dinner.
Are you vegan because of food allergies/intolerances or a lifestyle? Cause I have no pity on those who do things 'as a lifestyle'. Oh I don't eat meat because I don't want to waahhhhh. Shut up and eat a damn chicken wing. I have food allergies/intolerances so when I hear that people choose a lifestyle that is expensive, it feels like a punch to the stomach. I'd even go so far as to make regular wheat bread cost as much as the gluten free stuff. Pay your 7$ for a Small ass loaf of bread. Same with milk 6$ for a gallon of Lactaid milk. I want families to spend that much on their dairy full milk. Either give us food disabled folks the same prices as the non food disabled, or just raise the prices so everyone can suffer together. If you're a family with no food allergies whining about your grocery bill, you are clearly not fit to have kids. Food with wheat and dairy is super cheap compared to the gluten and dairy free foods.
the love of money. Never used Amy’s and now i never will.
We all no the game. They hire the poorest people because they have no voice, until now.
That bearded guy is so evil. Good lying demon.
Capitalist state/state capitalist
Glad I don't like their food.
Wow! I used to like Amy's! NO MORE!
It breaks my heart to hear about the experiences these women have had to go through. But if we really want change - we have to make changes to the entire system of how we make food. The union is just a band-aid solution - it's not going to solve the larger systemic issues of socio-economic hierarchies that our society has built. AND the union itself is a business too, looking to make their own profits. This video is 100% part of a PR campaign. Amy's is a growing business that the Teamsters want to cash in on. They want 7% of the paycheck dues from Amy's employees and they're campaigning to get it. I'm trying to stay educated and understand both sides of this argument...I believe these women when they say the work is hard and there is risk for injury. I believe these women when they say they want better working conditions. But I also believe the company when they say they are working to improve safety measures and do their best to keep their employees happy and safe. It's a complex issue - we have to educate ourselves on all of the aspects.
Taking advantage of minorities sadly 😢😢
Their complaints/grievances appear to be rather vague. I'm not American but I had visited in 2015 and became a fan of Amy's lentil soup. I think this might be false propaganda funded by the competition to discredit Amy's. The funding sources of this channel should be investigated.
All the other companies do this they just weren't exposed yet. I won't be boycotting Amy's.
This doesn't expose anything just 4 angry employees that complain about anything. 1 complained about being on light duty and had to clean tables. Witch is a good thing. Other employee complained that the insurance went up when they got paid more. We knew that was going to happen because Amy's was looking for a better insurance. Someone got hurt because of the line speed there's trainings on ergonomics that help prevent that from happening do people fallow that training not always a then they get hurt. Someone else said that she feels like Amy's treats the employees like animals. LoL they do say we are the work horse of the food industry.
Yeah NO!! I also worked at that place and didn't not last, it was horrible. I was very fast so they quickly took advantage of that, they had me doing the heaviest duties for $8 per hr. I remember going home tired as shit, I had 0 energy to do anything else and for an 18 year old do you really think that is normal? My friend also 18 got hurt and got fired when she did, because she was useless fot them. She had to get surgery out of her own pocket and still couldn't work anywhere else. When that happened I was like nope that's it I'm out!. I remember the ladies being afraid of messing up, the environment was toxic and the Supervisor was constantly hitting on young girls, (invited me to go out of town to "dance") I turned him down and he went after my other three friends. He was a married 40+ year old. One of my friends reported him and they laid her off almost right away. Most of the people who stay are people who think they can not find better jobs, because they are immigrants and most do not speak the language. For you to say these people are just complaining, you really don't know what people go through.
@@jackuzza-1325 correct me if I’m wrong but it seems to be like a weird cult something is off with the family and they’re using the workers for their own gain
I'm sorry but learn to speak english English is our national language!!!
It really isn't necessary tho. Google translator does the trick! 😉
For real!
This is all BS
but it’s a job you chose? it just sounds like a shakedown for higher wages. they’re clearly not americans as they haven’t learned english yet. so basically they just want the company to still hire them yet they want more money. 🤷♂️
No more Amy's for me.
Gross