The laundry list of Amazon’s dismissed organizers has become suspiciously long, and the National Council for Labor Relations has noticed.
A regional NLRB director found merit for two activists’ claims that Amazon unfairly shoot them last year. From 2019-2020, user experience designers Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa defended prominently climate justice and warehouse workers safety, along with thousands of other workers. In conjunction with their protests, especially calling AWS to facilitating oil and gas extraction – Amazonia hardened its rules in the employee’s speech. Later, Amazon used the rules to justify threats to fire Cunningham and Costa.
The NLRB does not provide details on the findings of the regional director. But if the case involves changing the rule, it is exceptional: it suggests that Amazon cannot simply reorganize its policies to silence protests.
The New York Times first reported the news on Monday.
If Amazon refuses to make a deal with its former employees, the case goes to a hearing, which could end up in court.
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Cunningham and Costa defied Amazon’s order to remain silent, arguing that the issue replaces Amazon’s public relations 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,” said Costa told the Washington Post in January. (ONE Review Gizmodo internal documents showed that in 2019 Amazon abandoned its plans to develop wind farms while pursuing business with the fossil fuel industry.)
Amazon has consistently said a big game on how to reduce pollution and washed his hands with promises and philanthropy. It even went so far as to install a big ass sign in an arena to remind us that you care. However emissions increased in 2019, not recycled card stacked, and the company continued to snuggle up to Big Oil.
As leaders of the group of 8,700 members of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, Costa and Cunningham spoke publicly in protests, shareholder meetings, on Twitter and in the media. In April 2019, AEJC published a open letter Jeff Bezos, demanding that the company commit to setting a timeline for its 100% renewable energy goals, eliminating emissions instead of limiting itself to carbon credits, stop providing technology for oil and gas companies, and withhold donations to members of Congress who consistently vote against progressive climate policies.
In September 2019, AECJ announced that some 1,800 Amazon employees have pledged to step 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 he appeared in a video by Bernie Sanders and spoke to Washington Post about that, however.
“It is our moral responsibility to speak – regardless of Amazon’s attempt to censor us – especially when the climate poses an unprecedented threat to humanity,” Costa told the Post.
Amazon finally fired Cunningham and Coast in April 2020, shortly after they invited warehouse workers and technology teams to a Video conference. (ONE few weeks previously, Cunningham and Costa tweeted that they would match donations of up to $ 500 to deposit workers at increased risk of contracting covid-19.) The company then told the New York Times who fired them for “violating internal 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 their employers’ working conditions, but that does not come with general immunity against our internal policies, all of which are legal,” they said. “We fired these employees not for publicly talking about working conditions, safety or sustainability, but for repeatedly violating internal policies.” We asked Amazon for clarification.
If Amazon does not close, the NRLB regional director will file a complaint and the case will go on to a hearing with an administrative law judge. If Amazon loses, the judge can reward or compel Amazon to offer Costa and Cunningham their jobs back. If Amazon wants to drag this out, it can ask the NLRB to decide and then go to the appeals court and even the Supreme Court.
Cunningham and Costa continued to put pressure on Amazon about the weather and to organize after the resignation. Costa spoke at Amazon’s May 2020 shareholders’ meeting, and Cunningham led an effort to Support, support the Amazon union campaign in Bessemer, Alabama.
After Amazon frontline workers protested across the country against alleged inadequate covid-19 safeguards, a growing chorus demanded that Amazon explain itself for always expelling the organizers. A group of Democratic senators called on Amazon to explain a series of layoffs for organizers, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, filed a lawsuit partly in connection with the alleged retaliation against two protesters. Motherboard reported in a defamation campaign attempt against a protest leader, as well as numerous attempts to end a union effort. The NLRB has found complaints from previously dismissed organizers lawful.
Last week, NBC News find something at least 37 complaints accusing Amazon of stifling attempts at organization were brought to the NLRB. The Bureau confirmed to Earther that it is investigating several cases in Brooklyn, which could lead to a consolidated national investigation.
This is bigger than some claims. If we want to avoid a catastrophe, workers need a seat at the bargain table alongside a few super-rich guys who can choose and choose investments in the global future.