Piotr Endig | AFP | Getty’s paintings
Amazon Warehouse working conditions, which have come under increased scrutiny in recent times, at the moment are being investigated by Congress led by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
IN letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Sanders, who chairs the Senate Medical Assistance Committee.
“Amazon is conscious about these dangerous conditions, the life-changing consequences of staff who’re injured on the job, and the steps the corporate can take to scale back the numerous risk of injury,” wrote Sanders, an independent who works with the Democratic Party. “However, the corporate made a calculated decision to not implement adequate worker protections because Jeff Bezos, the founding father of Amazon, and also you, his successor as CEO, have created a company culture that treats employees as disposable.”
Steve Kelly, an Amazon spokesman, told CNBC in a press release that the corporate strongly disagrees with Sanders’ claims within the letter. Separately, the corporate said Sanders was invited to tour certainly one of Amazon’s warehouses.
Sanders urged Jassy to supply more information related to Amazon’s injury and turnover rates, in addition to data on his on-site medical clinic, called AMCARE, as of 2019. He also asked Jassy to say whether Amazon, internally or through a 3rd party, had investigated “the connection between the work pace of its warehouse staff and the incidence or cost of injuries at its warehouses.”
Sanders said Jassy has until July 5 to reply to the inquiry. AID Committee posted the shape on its website looking for testimonials from current and former Amazon employees about their experiences at the corporate.
Amazon faces ongoing federal probes into its security beyond the Senate. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s office are investigating conditions at several warehouses, while the Department of Justice can be investigating whether Amazon is reporting injury underreporting.
Amazon says it has made progress to scale back injuries across its U.S. operations and continues to take a position in safety initiatives, projects and programs. It also referenced numerous citations issued by OSHA in recent months regarding security threats and breaches.
Under Sanders’ leadership, the HELP committee looked into past data on third-party jobs Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz testified before the committee in March after Sanders repeatedly criticized the coffee chain’s handling of staff’ union efforts. Sanders has also been a frequent critic of Amazon’s labor practices, leading a Senate Budget Committee hearing last May and welcoming Bezos to debate the corporate’s approach to unions.
TO WATCH: Why OSHA is Investigating Amazon for “Failure to Keep Employees Safe”
