Amazon chief executive Dave Clark tried to mock Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) On Twitter and was immediately bombarded with negative news about the company.
Clark, who is CEO of Amazon’s global consumer unit, tweeted on Wednesday about Sanders’ trip to Alabama, where the senator will meet with Amazon workers who are pushing to unionize, Reuters reported.
“I welcome @SenSanders in Birmingham and thank you for your effort for a progressive workplace,” wrote Clark. He then added sarcastically, “I often say that we are the Bernie Sanders of employers, but that is not right because, in fact, we offer a progressive workplace.”
“So if you want to hear about $ 15 an hour and medical assistance, Senator Sanders will speak downtown,” added Clark. “But if you want to earn at least $ 15 an hour and have a good health care system, Amazon is hiring.”
1/3 welcome @SenSanders to Birmingham and appreciate your effort for a progressive workplace. I often say that we are the Bernie Sanders of employers, but that is not right because we really offer a progressive workplace https://t.co/Fq8D6vyuh9
– Dave Clark (@davehclark) March 24, 2021
2/3 for our constituents: a minimum wage of $ 15, health care from day one, career advancement and a safe and inclusive work environment.
– Dave Clark (@davehclark) March 24, 2021
3/3 So if you want to hear about $ 15 an hour and medical assistance, Senator Sanders will speak downtown. But if you want to earn at least $ 15 an hour and get good health care, Amazon is hiring.
– Dave Clark (@davehclark) March 24, 2021
Clark’s post was rated by critics, including Clinton-era Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Sara Nelson, the union president’s Association of Flight Attendants, responded with articles alleging unsafe working conditions for Amazon employees:
– Forcing workers to urinate in bottles
– Firing pregnant women for taking too many breaks to go to the bathroom
– Hiring analysts to monitor ‘work organization threats’
– Getting employees to attend mandatory anti-union meetingsThis is what a senior vice president at Amazon calls a “progressive workplace”. https://t.co/l1BTe2SLqO
– Robert Reich (@RBReich) March 24, 2021
Sick. Out of touch, arrogant greedy Bs. $ 15 is the floor and is pathetic for the work people do in inhumane conditions. You won’t even let people use the elevators because that is saved for the product. Reminds me of mine owners, 100 years ago, more concerned with mules than men
– Sara Nelson (@FlyingWithSara) March 24, 2021