Inside an Amazon.com warehouse in the Lehigh Valley

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Hour 1

When you order something from an online retailer like Amazon.com, it’s easy to forget the work that happens between your keyboard and the package arriving at your door. But an investigation by SPENCER SOPER, reporter for The Morning Call of Allentown, discovered that the Amazon warehouses in Breinigsville, on Route 100 near Interstate 78 in the Lehigh Valley, have been the source of several complaints about working conditions, from brutal heat to back-breaking workflow for scared, temporary workers. In this hour of Radio Times, we’ll talk to Soper about his reporting, which prompted this response from Amazon. We’ll also hear from CATHERINE RUCKELSHAUS, legal co-director of National Employment Law Project, who will help us understand how the dynamic in the Lehigh Valley Amazon warehouse fits into today’s employment environment, especially for the temporary workers employed by online retailers. Finally, we’ll talk to Soper about his column, “On the Cheap,” in which he and the Morning Call’s readers explore cheaper ways to buy, make or do without everyday essentials.

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[audio: 092911_100630.mp3]

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