Amazon delays new Fort Myers delivery station to 2019

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Package being assembled by an Amazon employee. Photo via WINK
Package being assembled by an Amazon employee. Photo via WINK

Amazon has pushed off the opening of its new Fort Myers delivery station to 2019. Delaying Leonardo, who requested we do not use his last name for fear of losing his job, and many others new jobs for the holidays.

“It’s screwed me a lot because the guy actually told us you can just quit your job,” Leonardo said. “You’re going to start on the fifth, so I gave my job my resignation letter.”

Amazon officials said permit issues have delayed the opening.

Leonardo was planning on spending time with his daughter. “She doesn’t live here now,” he said. “I’m screwed. I had my bills on top of me, my rent, my car payment, my insurance — I mean everything!”

When the delivery station does open, it will provide the area with 500 part-time jobs with fully flexible schedules, including benefits. Some workers will earn upwards of $18 an hour.

The delivery station will help Amazon customers receive their packages faster. It is the last stop before the customer’s doorstep. Janeth Castrejob with CareerSource Southwest Florida, said this will completely reshape an already thriving job market.

Leonardo is disappointed about the Amazon delivery station delay preventing him from starting work. Photo via WINK News.
Leonardo is disappointed about the Amazon delivery station delay preventing him from starting work. Photo via WINK News.

“About time we have a competitor come into the area,” Janeth said, “and actually have the other employers reevaluate how they’re going to attract quality talent to themselves.”

As for Leonardo, Amazon said he and the 450 others already offered jobs will still have those positions when the electronic commerce and cloud computing company opens. But it leaves him scrambling for other work in the meantime.

“It’s a multibillion dollar company,” Leonardo said. “It’s not like a wishy-washy company or somebody from the neighborhood. It’s a big company. They should be more professional.”

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