Dear Jeff Bezos and Amazon Executives:
We write to you today shocked at reports that Amazon warehouses are not practicing the protocols
necessary to protect the well-being of your workers and of the public.
And we are outraged to hear that not only did Amazon executives NOT promptly address the concerns
being articulated by your own workers, but you actually fired one of the lead whistleblowers immediately
following his courageous action Monday. We call for the swift reinstatement of Chris Smalls to reassure
all workers and observers that speaking out about improvements needed to health and safety practices
right now is not only tolerated, but WELCOMED as critically important to all of our well-being.
You claim to have adopted a number of practices to sanitize worksites and protect workers. But a
compelling number of workers have come forward - and even run the incredible personal risk of walking
off the job - to report that the actual situation in warehouses does not match Amazon’s public relations
statements. They report that the circumstances of their work make it impossible to comply with public
health protocols - reporting crowded spaces, a required rate of work that does not allow for proper
sanitizing of work spaces, and empty containers meant to hold sanitizing wipes. Your workers deserve
to have full protections and to be confident that they are not carrying COVID-19 home to their families.
And the safety of your workers also impacts the safety of everyone who touches or receives packages
once they leave your warehouses.
We write in support of your own workers calling for you to CLOSE Amazon warehouses until you put
into place real solutions - with independent monitors - to protect your workers and the public in this
moment of public health crisis.
We support workers who are calling for warehouse closures with full pay for all workers who
depend on those warehouses for their income, until you put into place the following protocols:
-
Independent health and safety inspection and ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance
with CDC and other governing health guidelines. - 100% pay for all employees during sanitation closures.
-
Cancel all rate and productivity requirements which limit employee time for proper
sanitation, including “Time Off Task” for all workers. - Stricter protocols for six foot distancing measures.
- Cover childcare expenses for employees given district wide school closures.
-
Full pay for all workers who cannot return to work because of their own or family member illness
or out of need to self-quarantine - for themselves or loved ones. -
Retroactive pay for workers who have needed to take unpaid time off over the past month due
to COVID-19 and its effects on our communities. -
Issue a public statement of improved protocols - for the safety of your workers and the
public.
SIGNATORIES:
Rich Trumka on behalf of the AFL-CIO
Stuart Appelbaum on behalf of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
Lee Saunders on behalf of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees
Marc Perrone on behalf of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Randi Weingarten on behalf of the American Federation of Teachers
Mary Kay Henry on behalf of the Service Employees International Union
James Hoffa on behalf of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Amazon Employees for Climate Justice
ELECTED OFFICIALS of NEW YORK STATE
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson NYC Council Finance Chair Daniel Dromm NYC Council Labor Chair Daneek Miller NYC Council Member Adrienne Adams NYC Council Member Diana Ayala NYS Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris NYS Senate Labor Chair Jessica Ramos NYS Senator David Carlucci NYS Senator Brad Hoylman NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera |
NYS Assembly Assistant Speaker Félix W. Ortiz NYS Assembly Member Robert Carroll NYS Assembly Member William Colton NYS Assembly Member Catalina Cruz NYS Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez NYS Assembly Member Ron Kim NYS Assembly Member Latoya Joyner NYS Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell NYS Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez NYS Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal NYS Assembly Member Nily Rozic NYS Assembly Member Aravella Simotas |
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson NYC Council Finance Chair Daniel Dromm NYC Council Labor Chair Daneek Miller NYC Council Member Adrienne Adams NYC Council Member Diana Ayala NYS Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris NYS Senate Labor Chair Jessica Ramos NYS Senator David Carlucci NYS Senator Brad Hoylman NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera |