The laundry list of organizers fired at Amazon has grown suspiciously, and the National Council for Labor Relations has noticed.
A regional director for the NLRB found credit for two activists’ claims that Amazon was unfair fired them last year. In the period 2019-2020, the user experience designers, Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa, prominently supported climate justice and safety of warehouse workers, along with thousands of other workers. Along with their protests – especially by appealing to the AWS facilitating oil and gas extraction – Amazon he tightened his rules on employees’ speech. Amazon later used the rules to justify threats against Cunningham and Costa’s dismissal.
NLRB does not provide details on the regional director’s findings. But if the case involves changing the rule, it’s exceptional: it suggests that Amazon simply can’t rearrange its policies to silence protests.
New York Times first reported the news Monday.
If Amazon refuses to settle with its former employees, the case will go to a hearing, which could eventually go to court.
G / O Media may receive a commission
Cunningham and Costa defied Amazon’s order to remain silent, arguing that the issue replaces Amazon’s PR policies. “I spoke because I am terrified of the damage that the climate crisis is already causing and I fear for the future of my children,” Costa said. said Washington Post in January. (A Gizmodo Reviews of internal documents showed that in 2019, Amazon gave up its plans to develop wind farms while pursuing transactions with the fossil fuel industry.)
Amazon has constantly spoke a great game about reducing pollution and he washed his hands with pledges and philanthropy. It even went as far as installing one big bottom sign on an arena to remind us that he cares. In the meantime emissions increased in 2019, not recycled cardboard they piled up and the company continued comfortable up to Big Oil.
As public leaders of the group of 8,700 members of Amazon’s employees for climate justice, Costa and Cunningham spoke publicly at protests, shareholder meetings, on Twitter and in the media. In April 2019, the AEJC published a open letter to Jeff Bezos calling on the company to commit to setting a timetable for its 100% renewable energy targets, to eliminate emissions, rather than to rely on carbon credits, stop offering technology for oil and gas companies and withhold donations from members of Congress who are constantly voting against progressive climate policy.
In September 2019, The AECJ announced that approximately 1,800 Amazon employees have pledged to go in solidarity with the global climate strike. When Amazon caught the wind of the event, it banned employees from unsanctioned conversations about the company with the media. In January 2020, Amazon threatened to fire Costa and Cunningham. They it appeared in a video Bernie Sanders and spoke with Washington Post However.
“It is our moral responsibility to speak out – regardless of Amazon’s attempt to censor us – especially when the climate poses an unprecedented threat to humanity,” Costa said. he told the Post.
Amazon finally fired Cunningham and Cost in April 2020, shortly after they invited warehouse workers and technology teams to a video conference. (A a few weeks Earlier, Cunningham and Costa wrote on Twitter that they would equal donations of up to $ 500 for warehouse workers at higher risk of contracting covid-19.) The company has since he told the New York Times that he fired them for “violating domestic policies.”
In a statement shared with Earther, an Amazon spokesman said the company did not fire Costa and Cunningham because they spoke but again, for unspecified “domestic policies.”
“We support the right of every employee to criticize the employer’s working conditions, but this does not come with a general immunity against our internal policies, all of which are legal,” they said. “We fired these employees not because they spoke publicly about working conditions, safety or sustainability, but rather for repeated violations of domestic policies.” I asked Amazon for clarification.
If Amazon does not resolve it, the NRLB regional director will issue a complaint, and the case will go to a hearing with an administrative law judge. If Amazon loses, the judge could grant reimbursement or force Amazon to give Costa and Cunningham their jobs back. If Amazon wants to move on, it could ask the NLRB to rule, then it can go to the appellate court and even the Supreme Court.
Cunningham and Costa continued to put pressure on the Amazon on the climate and organization after their launch. Costa spoke to Amazon in May 2020 shareholders’ meeting, and Cunningham led an effort support Amazon union in Bessemer, Alabama.
After Amazon front-line workers protested nationwide against the alleged inadequate guarantees of covid-19, a growing backlash asked Amazon to explain itself to the usual root of the organizers. A group of Democratic senators called Amazon to explain a series of layoffs by organizers, as well as New York Attorney General Letitia James tried a lawsuit in part regarding alleged reprisals against two protesters. Motherboard reported in an attempt to campaign against a protest leader, as well many test to eliminate a unionization effort. NLRB has found previously rejected the organizers’ complaints legitimate.
Last week, NBC News It found that at least 37 complaints have been filed with the NLRB accusing Amazon of stifling organizational attempts. The bureau confirmed to Earther that it is analyzing various cases in Brooklyn, which could lead to a strengthened nationwide investigation.
This is greater than a few statements. If we are to avoid catastrophe, workers need a place at the negotiating table along with a few guys who can pick and choose investments in the global future.