Tag: Amazon Jobs

Massachusetts town approves new bylaw to restrict Amazon drone deliveries: “Like David and Goliath”

Posted on by Leave a comment

Residents in Westboro, Massachusetts, are pushing back against Amazon’s plans to launch drone deliveries in their community, overwhelmingly approving a new bylaw aimed at restricting the service. At a special town meeting Monday, residents voted 510-13 in favor of the bylaw, which would regulate noise, nuisance and privacy issues associated with commercial drone deliveries and impose fines for violations. The bylaw has to be reviewed and allowed by the state attorney general before it can take effect. It comes as Amazon has made plans to begin delivering packages by drone in Westboro and surrounding communities by the end of the year.

The company is already operating drone delivery flights in about a dozen metro areas, with plans to expand the service to several hundred cities and towns across the U.S. by the end of 2026. Amazon Prime Air uses autonomous drones measuring about 5 feet by 5 feet to deliver packages directly to customers’ properties, within an hour of an order being placed. “Westboro, Mass. has been exactly that type of beacon of innovation that we’re looking for,” said Amazon’s Tareq Wafaie during an August Select Board meeting about the proposal, pointing to the company’s already large footprint in Westboro, which includes a fulfillment center and robotics facility. But some residents say the convenience of faster deliveries isn’t worth the potential impact on their neighborhoods. “We’re very passionate about this issue.

It might feel like David and Goliath, but I like how that story ends,” said Stephanie Stuchlik, who is part of the growing opposition to Amazon’s plans. “I spend a lot of time outdoors with my kids. I have two little girls, so I am disturbed by the thought of having this quality time outside with them, reading books and hearing and seeing these drones flying overhead all day long. It feels like not what I want my kids to grow up into,” she added. While the Federal Aviation Administration largely controls the use of airspace and has green-lit drone deliveries, residents are attempting to regulate the operation of commercial drone deliveries at the ground level. “Public nuisance, public safety issue. For what gain? To save 20 or 30 minutes to get your toothpaste or a bottle of Thousand Island dressing? It doesn’t make sense,” said Rod Jané.

“I think it’s a really, really bad idea for the town, and I think we’re doing the right thing in opposing it,” Jané added. The opposition in Westboro has also caught the attention of state and federal lawmakers. In a letter, State Sen. Michael Moore and other area lawmakers are requesting Gov. Maura Healey’s administration establish a task force to review commercial drone deliveries and consider potential policy changes. “Do we want our quality of life impacted by this?” Moore questioned. Moore said the outcome in Westboro could have implications beyond the town. “Whatever happens here will be the precedent for obviously Massachusetts and maybe New England. That’s why it’s so important that we try to get this right,” he said. “Most of us are Prime customers,” said resident Christine Farmer.

“But if drone delivery services operate, that opens the gateway for any other retailer. So that’s the reason why the townspeople are saying, ‘no thank you.'” “It’s really a disruption to the peace and the quality of life that we would have here to have something just show up and make a delivery stopping 13 feet from your window,” Farmer added. In a statement, Amazon acknowledged the town’s vote, but indicated it is continuing to evaluate its plans. “We are aware of the bylaw recently passed in Westborough regarding commercial drone delivery. We remain committed to engaging with local officials and community members as we continue to assess our plans for the area,” the company said. Amazon also defended its Prime Air program, which already operates in several states and metropolitan areas, describing the service as safe and reliable. “Each Prime Air site creates new jobs spanning operations, engineering, safety, and more, with employees earning competitive wages and full benefits from day one,” the company said.

Meanwhile, residents are preparing for another challenge through the local zoning board. Opponents argue that Amazon should not be allowed to use its existing Westboro facility to launch drone deliveries and plan to appeal to the board as part of their ongoing efforts. “We need to stop, we need to pause, we need to do everything in our power to preserve our skies and also our quality of life,” Farmer added.

Source: Massachusetts town approves new bylaw to restrict Amazon drone deliveries: “Like David and Goliath” – CBS Boston

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Amazon says it will hire 300,000 workers for seasonal jobs this year

Posted on by Leave a comment
logo on vehicle livery

Amazon said on Tuesday that it plans to hire 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time workers across the U.S. this holiday season, up 20% from the same period last year. Holiday retail sales this year are expected to top $1 trillion for the first time, according to a forecast from the National Retail Federation.  In September, Amazon announced that it was boosting the minimum starting wage for full-time workers to $20 an hour, while average pay for full-time staffers is roughly $24 per hour, according to the retailer.  Seasonal workers earn an average of $20 per hour, according to Amazon. Starting in 2027, seasonal employees who work at least 30 hours per week will also be eligible for the same healthcare benefits provided to full-time workers, the company said. 

Job listings will be posted weekly from October through December, according to Amazon. Here’s a snapshot of the jobs the company is looking to fill, along with the salary:

  • Locker+ Retail Associate in Jackson, Wyoming Pay: $21.50-$22 per hour plus up to $3,000 signing bonus
  • Delivery Station Warehouse Associate in Danbury, Connecticut Pay: $21-$23.50 per hour 
  • Warehouse equipment operator in Easton, Pennsylvania Pay: $21.25-$23.75 per hour
  • XL Warehouse Equipment Operator, Huntley, Illinois Pay: $22-$24.50 per hour
  • Robotics Warehouse Associate, Omaha, Nebraska Pay: $20.25-$22.75 per hour

Source: Amazon says it will hire 300,000 workers for seasonal jobs this year – CBS San Francisco

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

Hunted for Following Jesus

In some communities, Muslims who leave Islam to follow Christ face rejection, threats, violence, and even death because of their faith. For Muslim-background believers, choosing to follow Jesus…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.