Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders launched an investigation into what he calls “ dangerous and illegal conditions ” running rearing in Amazon ’s warehouse facilities . In afiery letteraddressed to CEO Andy Jassy Tuesday , electric sander accused Amazon of set profits over people and creating a bodied culture that “ treats worker as disposable . ”
“ At every turn — from storage warehouse design and workstation frame-up , to pace of work necessity , to aesculapian care for accidental injury and subsequent pressure to reelect to oeuvre — Amazon make decisions that actively harm doer in the name of its bottom line , ” Sanders wrote .
The Vermont Democrat , who presently chairs the Senate Committee on Health , Education , Labor and Pension ( HELP ) accused the troupe of willfully and repeatedly violating workplace safety laws and setting unintelligible and aggressive productivity goals . Those ruthless quota , when mix with the company’snotoriously someone - crush operation monitoring system , allegedly lead workers to over - maintain themselves to the pointedness of strong-arm hurt . Warehouse workers vital of Amazon ’s productivity metrics have say it leaves themfeeling like little more than a robot .
Photo: Michael M. Santiago, Stephen Maturen (Getty Images)
Amazon ’s incessant productivity demands , Sanders alleged , make its workplace “ uniquely severe . ” Speaking to that point , the varsity letter cites an April report from The Strategic Organizing Center , whichestimatesAmazon warehouse doer hurt around 39,000 hurt last year . Amazon ’s rate of “ serious injuries , ” concord to the report , was more than double the charge per unit at non - Amazon warehouse .
“ In its endless pursuit of net , Amazon sacrifices workers ’ bodies under the perpetual pressure of a surveillance organization that implement impossible rate , ” Sanders say .
The letter kick in Jassy up until July 5th to furnish certification explaining Amazon ’s notice above - manufacture average workplace trauma rates as well at its high rate of injury at facilities with robotics equipment . Sanders also sought more uncloudedness on the company ’s in high spirits rate of worker turnover as well as any communications within the company talk over possible link between the pace of work in its warehouse and increased wound rates .
Amazon pushed back against the missive in an email sent to Gizmodo , with a spokesperson saying the companionship “ powerfully disagree[s ] with Senator Sanders ’ assertions . ” The fellowship called into question the work combat injury physique adduce in Sanders ’ letter , including the finding from the Strategic Organizing Center , which the company depict as cherry - pick .
“ We take the rubber and health of our employee very seriously , ” Amazon representative Steve Kelly said . “ There will always be ways to improve , but we ’re proud of the progress we ’ve made which includes a 23 % reduction in recordable trauma across our U.S. surgical operation since 2019 . We ’ve invested more than $ 1 billion into condom initiatives , project , and programs in the last four years , and we ’ll continue investing and inventing in this area because nothing is more of import than our employees ’ safety . ”
Maria Langholz , the Communications Director for left - leaning advocacy radical Demand Progress , praise Sanders ’ investigating , which she noted could mark a “ critical step ” towards a future Congressional hearing where lawmakers can grill Amazon executives over workplace safety .
“ The dire work environs that Amazon worker confront is preventable , and this is the first step toward hold open Amazon workers dependable , ” Langholz say .
Workers accuse Amazon of managing through ‘fear and surveillance’
Concerns over Amazon ’s unyielding productiveness prerequisite has chip in to anuptick in labor organizationactivity at warehouse across the land . Khali Jama , an Amazon proletarian from St. Paul Minnesota organizing with The Awood Center , attribute the majority of the injuries they see in her workplace to the demand speed workers palpate pressured to maintain . Jama accuse Amazon of managing her and her fellow doer through a brutal apparatus of “ fear and surveillance . ”
“ If you are not maintain up with their unreasonable measure of speed , a director will come talk to you and tell you to quicken up , ” Jama said in a assertion provide to Gizmodo by the Athena Coalition . “ If you are still not capable to keep up for a second , or a third clip , you will get give the sack through an app on your phone . No one tells you that you have been fired . ”
Sanders ’ new investigaiton comes just months after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ) the nation ’s top workplace guard regulator , issued multiple citationsagainst Amazon for let out workers to risky conditions . Worker frustrations with Amazon ’s perceived neglect for refuge ledhundreds of warehosue workersto take the air out in protests earlier this year .
“ Amazon is one of the most worthful company in the world worth $ 1.3 trillion and its founder , Jeff Bezos , is one of the rich men in the existence worth nearly $ 150 billion , ” smoother said in his letter . “ Amazon should be one of the safe places in America to ferment , not one of the most dangerous . ”
“ If Amazon can open to pass $ 6 billion on broth buybacks last class , it can afford to make trusted that its warehouses are safe places to work , ” Sanders bring .
AmazonAndy JassyBernie SandersJeff Bezos
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