1900 Amazon workers plan walkout over trust issues with leadership, layoffs, return-to-office mandate, and environmental concerns. Read more
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They Key Takeaway
- Amazon employees around the world are planning to go on strike to raise awareness about several concerns. These include recent layoffs, a mandatory return-to-office policy, and Amazon’s environmental practices.
- The strike is being organized, in part, by a group called Amazon Employees for Climate Justice. They have been consistently urging the company to take stronger actions in addressing climate change.
- The employees are walking out to emphasize their “lack of trust in the decision-making of the company’s leadership,” as stated by the group.
Amazon Workers Concerns
Amazon employees worldwide are preparing to stage a walkout in protest of recent layoffs, the company’s return-to-office mandate, and its environmental record. Organized in part by Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, a worker organization focused on climate concerns, the walkout aims to draw attention to a perceived lack of trust in company leadership’s decision-making.
Approximately 1,900 employees from various locations are expected to participate, with around 900 of them gathering outside the iconic Spheres at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters.
The protest is a response to several issues, including the company’s largest-ever layoffs, which saw 27,000 jobs cut across divisions such as cloud computing, advertising, and retail since last fall.
Additionally, Amazon recently implemented a return-to-office policy, requiring corporate employees to work from the office at least three days a week, marking a shift away from the remote work arrangements established during the pandemic.
The return-to-office mandate has faced backlash from employees who believe it contradicts Amazon’s stated positions on diversity and inclusion, affordable housing, sustainability, and being the “Earth’s Best Employer.” Staff members expressed their concerns through a petition addressed to CEO Andy Jassy and the S-team, a group of senior executives representing various areas of Amazon’s business.
The discontent has spilled over into internal communication channels, with employees creating a group called Remote Advocacy to amplify their voices.
Some employees who either relocated during the pandemic or were hired for remote roles are particularly worried about the impact of the return-to-office policy.
Over the past few years, Amazon has experienced significant growth in its workforce, hiring employees outside of its main tech hubs. Initially, the company had allowed individual managers to determine the most suitable working arrangements for their teams.
In response to the planned walkout, Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser expressed the company’s satisfaction with the results of its return-to-office initiative.
Glasser stated that employees and surrounding businesses have reported increased energy, collaboration, and connections in the office. However, he acknowledged that the transition back to office work may require time and assured employees that many teams are working hard to ensure a smooth adjustment.
Apart from the return-to-office concerns, employees participating in the walkout are also highlighting Amazon’s alleged failure to meet its climate commitments.
They point to a recent sustainability report indicating a 40% increase in carbon emissions from 2019 to 2021, despite the company’s “Climate Pledge” plan unveiled in 2019. Employees also referenced a report from The Center for Investigative Reporting, which claimed that Amazon undercounts its carbon footprint by excluding emissions from products purchased from manufacturers and sold directly to consumers.
In response, Glasser clarified that Amazon adheres to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard to determine its Scope 3 emissions, which include those generated throughout the supply chain.
While the company recently abandoned one of its climate goals called “Shipment Zero,” it remains committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, as outlined in its broader Climate Pledge.
Amazon aims to achieve 100% renewable energy usage by 2025.
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Amazon Workers
The organizing group behind the walkout emphasized its desire to influence Amazon’s decision-making processes, particularly those that disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
They aim to alter the cost-benefit analysis within Amazon to prevent harmful decisions that affect people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
Amazon reiterated its commitment to becoming net carbon zero across its operations by 2040 and confirmed that progress toward achieving 100% renewable energy usage remains on track.
The company acknowledges that accomplishing these goals will require time, given its substantial power consumption, transportation needs, packaging requirements, and physical assets.
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