Senate Funds Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders on Thursday slammed Amazon and its chairman at a listening to on the corporate’s labor practices as he pushed the White Home to finish authorities contracts for the retailer.
“Amazon has completed the whole lot doable — authorized and unlawful — to defeat union organizing efforts,” Sanders mentioned. He addressed Amazon Chairman Jeff Bezos, who had been invited to testify however didn't seem.
“Given all of your wealth, how a lot do you want? Why are you doing the whole lot in your energy, together with breaking the regulation, to disclaim Amazon employees the proper to hitch a union in order that they will negotiate for higher wages, higher working circumstances and higher advantages?” Sanders requested. “How a lot do you want?”
Amazon didn't instantly reply to a request for remark.
The committee is listening to testimony from a number of folks together with Christian Smalls, who heads the Amazon Labor Union.
Smalls backed Sanders’ push for the White Home to finish federal contracts to corporations like Amazon which are accused of unfair labor practices.
“We can't permit Amazon or every other employer to obtain taxpayer cash in the event that they have interaction in unlawful union-busting conduct and deny employees’ rights,” Smalls mentioned in written testimony. “We can't present federal contracts to those employers. We can't permit them to obtain taxpayer subsidies from our state and native governments.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, the highest Republican on the panel, criticized Sanders for singling out Amazon. “That is an effort to get an consequence you need utilizing america Senate as your automobile. That is very harmful. You may have oversight hearings how you want however you identify Amazon is a chunk of crap firm. That’s your political bias,” Graham mentioned.
Additionally testifying had been Teamsters Common President Sean O’Brien and Greg LeRoy, government director of Good Jobs First.
Later within the day, Vice President Kamala Harris will host a White Home assembly with Smalls and labor leaders in search of to characterize employees at Amazon, Starbucks and different employers.
Final week, Sanders urged President Joe Biden to difficulty an government order slicing off federal contracts to Amazon, saying the web retailer “has develop into the poster youngster for unlawful anti-union conduct whereas raking in billions in federal contracts.”
Employees at an Amazon warehouse in New York Metropolis just lately voted to type the primary union on the second-largest US personal employer and be a part of the Amazon Labor Union below the management of Smalls, a former employee who has argued for increased pay and job safety.
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