Tag: staten
Halo Infinite Developer Joseph Staten Is Leaving 343 Industries And Returning To Xbox Publishing – Report
In a bombshell announcement, Microsoft stated that it will lay off 10,000 people. Halo Infinite’s 343 Industries has been impacted, according to reports, and veteran developer Joseph Staten is reportedly exiting to rejoin Xbox Publishing.
Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier broke the news of Staten leaving and noted that 343 Industries was “hit hard” by Microsoft’s layoffs. Staten has a storied legacy in the Halo franchise. He helped pen the stories for Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, and more. In 2020, 343 Industries announced that Staten was back to help the team “get [Halo Infinite] to the finish line.”
Staten’s departure from Halo Infinite isn’t entirely unexpected. The original 343 Industries blog post announcing Staten’s support stated he would help “for a bit,” suggesting that Staten’s presence on Halo was temporary.
: Amazon could have to bargain with Staten Island labor union, as NLRB upholds victory
Amazon suspends Staten Island workers who held impromptu strike
Amazon has responded swiftly to the impromptu strike at its unionized Staten Island warehouse. The company and workers have confirmed to CNN that about 50 workers were suspended with pay at JFK8 after they occupied the human resources office and refused to work in allegedly unsafe conditions following a ship dock fire. One of the workers, Connor Spence, said the suspension would continue while Amazon investigated the work stoppage.
We’ve asked Amazon for comment. In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson said there was a “small fire” in a cardboard compactor, and that it asked night shift workers (including those in the protest) to report to their usual shifts after firefighters said the warehouse was safe. The “vast majority” of workers complied, Amazon said. Day shift team members were sent home with pay.
The suspensions won’t help ease the conflict between Amazon and workers at JFK8, the company’s only unionized warehouse. In May, Amazon fired several senior managers in a move that employees claimed was retaliation for labor organization efforts. There’s also broader tension across the company. Staff at multiple American warehouses have pushed for unionization (albeit with limited success), while Amazon has been accused of using anti-union tactics.
The affected staffers won’t necessarily lose their jobs. However, it signals that Amazon isn’t keen to tolerate labor disruptions even with a union present.
Amazon workers hold impromptu strike after Staten Island warehouse fire
More than 100 Amazon employees conducted a work stoppage for around three hours after a fire broke out at a fulfillment center on Staten Island, New York. Night shift workers were moved to a break room as firefighters tackled a dumpster fire on a shipping dock next to the JFK8 warehouse. No one was injured, according to the New York City Fire Department, which was called to the scene at around 4PM ET on Monday.
Amazon Labor Union (ALU) president Chris Smalls said around 500 employees declined to return to work. Amazon put the figure at 100 and said another 1,000 kept working. The workers who downed tools occupied the human resources office and demanded paid time off for the night, as Motherboard reports.
Warning ⚠️ Workers screaming EVACUATE yet Amazon refuses to let Night Shift be excused with pay the burnt chemicals from the compactor still linger by docks hundreds of workers want to go home. Amazon will be held accountable @amazonlabor ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/XOpiRHLkQH
— Christian Smalls (@Shut_downAmazon) October 4, 2022
“All employees were safely evacuated, and day shift employees were sent home with pay,” Amazon spokesperson Paul Flaningan told Gothamist. “The FDNY certified the building is safe and at that point we asked all night shift employees to report to their regularly scheduled shift. While the vast majority of employees reported to their workstations, a small group refused to return to work and remained in the building without permission.”
Workers at the warehouse voted to form a union earlier this year. Amazon has contested the results of the election. Last month, a hearing officer recommended that the National Labor Relations Board should reject Amazon’s claims that the vote was invalid and authorize the union. Pending further appeals, Amazon has not started union contract negotiations.
Meanwhile, workers at another Amazon warehouse are seeking to unionize with the ALU. An election will be held at a fulfillment center outside of Albany later this month. Amid unionization efforts across the company, Amazon this week announced it will increase hourly workers’ pay.
Happening Now‼️ after a raging fire on ship dock 500 plus workers sat in the break room demanding to be sent home with pay for safety due to the smoke. @amazonlabor Lead organizes are now Marching on the Boss with hundreds of workers!✊🏽 #Alllaborwinter#ALU#UnionStrongpic.twitter.com/PsBrj27NKj
— Christian Smalls (@Shut_downAmazon) October 4, 2022