Jeffrey Swindle

I worked as a stacker, pallet jack, and in moving and labeling at several Amazon facilities in Washington, including BFI4 and BFI5 and a delivery center in Sumner. Over the time I was there, I got hurt more than once on the job. The two injuries that affected me most were a foot injury around 2020 or 2021 and a shoulder injury in 2021.

My foot injury happened when I was working at a fulfillment center. I was working on the fourth floor, where it got extremely hot. One day, during lunch, I was hurrying down the metal stairs to get to the break room. You had to spend part of your break just walking there and back. My foot got stuck in the stairs and twisted badly. I tore my foot and nearly broke my ankle. I ended up on workers’ comp for about five months. I had a cast, then a walking boot, and I went through physical therapy. That injury eventually healed, but it took time.

Later, I transferred to a delivery center in Sumner and that’s where I hurt my shoulder. I was sorting packages and loading carts for drivers during the busy season. The pace was intense. We were expected to move hundreds of packages an hour, and I remember my shoulder starting to hurt while I was working. I took some Tylenol and tried to push through the pain but it kept getting worse.

After I reported it to my manager, I had to go through Amazon’s process. I ended up seeing multiple doctors and getting MRIs, and they eventually found two tears in my labrum. I did physical therapy, but it didn’t fix the problem. Years went by and my shoulder still wasn’t right. I kept trying to get real treatment and asking what could be done. Five years later, I’m finally getting surgery so I can hopefully work without constant pain.

What I went through showed me how hard it can be to get treated fairly when you’re injured at Amazon. The work at the delivery center felt more manageable than at the fulfillment center, but management at both facilities could push people too hard.

I’m someone who wanted to keep working. I didn’t want to be out, and I didn’t want to stop earning money. But these injuries changed things for me. They also made me see how easily workers can be pushed aside when they get hurt. That’s why I’m open to sharing my story. If it helps other workers speak up, feel less alone, or push for safer conditions, then it’s worth telling.