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13.04.2026 / News /

Fired Over a Juice Carton: Migrant Cleaner Sues Amazon for Race Discrimination After Summary Sacking In Shocking Theft Scandal  

Fired Over a Juice Carton: Migrant Cleaner Sues Amazon for Race Discrimination After Summary Sacking In Shocking Theft Scandal  

• A 60-year-old outsourced Latin American cleaner has been dramatically  sacked from an Amazon warehouse in southeast London over a damaged juice carton destined for the bin 
• The veteran worker, with over seven years of spotless service, was accused of theft and fired on the spot without notice. 
• UVW has initiated legal proceedings against Amazon and its cleaning contactor arguing her dismissal amounts to age and race discrimination 
• She is the last remaining participant from a 2023 UVW cleaners’ strike at Amazon Belvedere against poverty pay, highlighting concerns over retaliation against unionised, low-paid migrant workers. 

A migrant Latin American cleaner who worked at Amazon’s Belvedere warehouse in the London borough of Bexley through facilities contractor TC Facilities Management (TCFM) was summarily dismissed in February 2026 after an incident involving a damaged carton of juice taken while carrying out cleaning duties.  

The item had been placed for disposal on the discard cage. As part of her role, Tobeida Cruz was responsible for removing damaged items from the area. Nevertheless, her presence near the goods was described as “unusual” in a key witness account, and the incident was classified as gross misconduct and theft, resulting in her summary dismissal despite the item never leaving the site. The worker had more than seven years of previously spotless service. 

The worker, backed by UVW, is taking both TCFM and Amazon to the Employment Tribunal. We believe Amazon’s actions in reporting her and seeking her removal were driven by prejudice against migrant workers, in breach of s.41 of the Equality Act 2010. 

UVW believes this case raises serious questions about the treatment of older and outsourced migrant cleaners at Amazon sites. This case appears to strongly align with established statistics that show a clear association between ethnic background and the likelihood of receiving disproportionately harsh disciplinary sanctions, as well as evidence that older workers are often subject to bias in disciplinary processes. Reviews of workplace research in the UK support these trends, highlighting the unequal treatment and heightened vulnerability of migrant and older workers. (Facilitate Magazine, 2025; Institute for Employment Studies, 2024) 

The dismissal has also drawn attention to the position of workers who have previously participated in workplace organising efforts, with the cleaner being the last remaining participant from a 2023 UVW strike against poverty wages at the site. 

Tobeida Cruz, Dismissed Amazon cleaner and UVW member:  

“I didn’t steal anything. I thought I was doing my job, and we haven’t been trained on these things. I think they use situations like this to get rid of people, maybe because of our age, health conditions, or union membership. They don’t seem to see us as equals. Maybe because we don’t speak English fluently, you’d think we are invisible to them. But we are valuable. Without us cleaning their rubbish, nothing would work. There would be disease and pollution. I think this was the moment they decided to get rid of me. I want my job back. I want my name cleared, because they have completely tarnished it.” 

Petros Elia, UVW General Secretary, said:  

“Sacking a 60-year-old cleaner over a damaged carton of juice is not just disproportionate; it exposes how outsourced, low-paid migrant cleaners are too often treated as invisible and disposable. These are the workers who keep workplaces safe and running every day, yet they are treated as expendable just like the damaged goods they are asked to clear away. We believe Amazon’s actions in reporting Tobeida and seeking her removal were driven by prejudice against migrant workers, in breach of s.41 of the Equality Act 2010, and that is why we are taking this case to the Employment Tribunal — not just because Tobeida deserves justice, but to ensure that these types of employers are held accountable for how the workers who keep their sites running are treated. And we won’t stop until justice is done.” 

For further information, contact the UVW communications team:
      

Cristina: 07548 759340  

Isabel: 07706 987443      

Email: comms@uvwunion.org.uk      

About UVW         

United Voices of the World (UVW) is a grassroots union representing low-paid, insecure, and predominantly migrant and BAME workers, including cleaners, concierges, couriers, carers, and hospitality staff across London.      

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