The laundry list of dismissed organizers on Amazon has grown suspiciously and the National Labor Relations Board has noticed.
An NLRB regional director has found the merit of the claims of two activists that Amazon unfairly fired last year. From 2019-2020, user experience designers Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa stood out climate justice i safety of warehouse workers, along with thousands of other workers. In parallel with his protests, particularly calling on AWS facilitating oil and gas extraction: Amazon he tightened his rules about employee speech. Amazon later used the rules to justify threats to shoot Cunningham and Costa.
The NLRB does not provide details on the regional director’s finding. But if the case involves the rule change, it’s exceptional: it suggests Amazon can’t simply reorganize its policies to silence protests.
The New York Times first reported the news Monday.
If Amazon refuses to settle with its former employees, the case goes to a hearing, which could eventually end up in court.
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Cunningham and Costa challenged Amazon’s order to shut up, arguing that the problem replaces Amazon’s public relations policies. “I spoke because I am terrified of the damage already caused by the climate crisis and I am afraid of the future of my children,” Costa he said the Washington Post in January. (A Gizmodo review of internal documents showed that in 2019 Amazon abandoned its plans to develop wind farms while pursuing agreements with the fossil fuel industry.)
Amazon has always done that he was talking a great game about reducing pollution and he washed his hands with pawns and philanthropy. A file was even installed big ass sign in an arena to remind us that he cares. in the meantime emissions increased in 2019, without recycling cardboard they piled up and the company continued cozy up to Big Oil.
As public leaders of the group of 8,700 members of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, Costa and Cunningham spoke publicly at the protests, shareholder meetings, Twitter and the media. In April 2019, AEJC released a paper open letter to Jeff Bezos demanding that the company commit to setting a timetable for its 100% renewable energy targets, eliminating emissions instead of relying on carbon credits, stop providing technology for oil and gas companies and withhold donations from members of Congress who constantly vote against progressive climate policy.
In September 2019, Announced AECJ that about 1,800 Amazon employees pledged to come out in solidarity with the global climate strike. When Amazon learned 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 appeared in a video by Bernie Sanders and spoke with the Washington Post despite this.
“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 i Costa in April 2020, shortly after they invited warehouse workers and technology teams to one video conferencing. (A a few weeks previously, Cunningham and Costa had tweeted that it would coincide with donations of up to $ 500 for warehouse workers at higher risk of hiring covid-19.) he told the New York Times who fired them for “violating domestic policies.”
In a statement shared with Earther, an Amazon spokesman argued that the company did not fire Costa and Cunningham for speaking out. but, again, for unspecified “internal policies.”
“We support the right of all employees to criticize the working conditions of their employers, but this does not entail a general immunity against our internal policies, which are lawful,” they said. “We fired these employees not to speak publicly about working conditions, safety or sustainability, but to repeatedly violate internal policies.” We asked Amazon for clarification.
If Amazon is not resolved, 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 payment of the return or force Amazon to re-offer Costa and Cunningham their jobs. If Amazon wants to drag it, it can ask the NLRB to rule on whether to go to the appellate court and even the Supreme Court.
Cunningham and Costa have continued to put pressure on Amazon about the weather and organization after their dismissal. Costa spoke in May 2020 about Amazon shareholders’ meeting, and Cunningham has led an effort to do so support the union of the Amazon union in Bessemer, Alabama.
After Amazon front-line workers protested across the country against alleged inadequate safeguards of the covid-19, a growing chorus has demanded that Amazon explain itself for having habitually rooted for organizers. A group of Democratic senators called Amazon to explain a number of layoffs from organizers, and New York Attorney General Letitia James has done so filed a lawsuit partly with regard to alleged reprisals against two protesters. Large plate reported in an attempted defamation campaign against a protest leader as well numerous attempts to erase a unionization effort. The NLRB has Found previously dismissed the organizers ’complaints legitimate.
Last week, NBC News 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 studying several cases in Brooklyn, which could lead to a consolidated investigation nationwide.
This is bigger than some complaints. If we avoid a catastrophe, workers need a seat at the negotiating table alongside a few uber-rich guys who can pick and choose investments in the global future.