Vice’s Motherboard reports that last month, hundreds of Amazone warehouse workers in Chicago were told by management they had two choices — sign up for a ten-and-a-half-hour overnight shift or lose their job. Workers were told by management that their warehouse known as DCH1 was to be shut down and they were being offered a shift that runs from 1:20 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., known as a “megacycle,” at a new Chicago warehouse.
The group added: “In this COVID-19 environment, kids are home and learning virtually and a parent needs to be with them.”
Amazon has begun transitioning workers nationwide into megacycle shifts in recent months. Megacycle shifts combine shorter shifts into one 10-hour shift beginning around 1:00 a.m. and ending close to noon. The term megacycle is used by managers and workers to describe 10-hour graveyard shifts according to workers.
Now, DCH1 workers will only have megacycle options at a new facility. The DCH1 Amazonians United posted about the issue on Twitter:
An Amazon spokesperson told Motherboard that the transition to megacycle provides a longer window for customers to place orders and an improved warehouse station experience. The company believes this makes it easier for different delivery stations to work together.
