The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) isn’t too happy about the prospect of Amazon’s new store that presents the aspect of having no cashier.
The new Amazon store will run off artificial intelligence and computer technology that will give customers the access to pick whatever they want off the shelf and leave without having to wait in any type of long lines.
Since cashiers make up an estimated 3.5 million jobs in America, the idea of a store without them doesn’t sit too well with many. Marc Perrone, who is international president of the UFCW, said, “Amazon believes that America’s hardworking men and women are irrelevant to customers.” However, Amazon contradicts that statement. Employees will play a big part in the new Amazon Go store. There will be food to cook, shelves to stock, and customers to greet. Amazon isn’t getting rid of employees completely, just attempting to make things easier for their customers when it comes to waiting in long lines.
Amazon said in a statement that, “Getting rid of checkout lines is great for customers, and our associates are great for customers, too.”
Somehow, though, the new Amazon Go store isn’t the only thing that Amazon has received criticism for. In the past, Amazon has been blamed for taking the jobs of many stores and publishing companies. Amazon, however, says that majority of the items it sells on its website are sold by third party companies who seem to have no problem with the process.
Perrone believes that “Amazon is masking its blind greed as progress. This is not about improving customer experience: it’s about destroying good jobs, with no regard to the families and communities impacted. This is not the America that hardworking families want and deserve.”
Just this Monday Amazon revealed a pilot store which it titled “Amazon Go”. As of now, the store is only open to beta testers, but the company hopes to have it up and running for the public by 2017.
Comment Template