Bernie Sanders Launches Senate Investigation into Amazon’s “Dangerous and Illegal” Workplace Conditions

Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has initiated a Senate investigation into the alleged “dangerous and illegal conditions” prevailing at Amazon facilities. In a letter addressed to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy on Tuesday, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) accused the e-commerce giant of treating workers as “disposable” and prioritizing profits over employee well-being.

Sanders called on Amazon to cease its willful violation of workplace safety laws and make substantial changes to safeguard the health and safety of its workers. The investigation marks the latest effort by the U.S. government to hold Amazon accountable for its labor practices, following a series of citations and hazard alert letters issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) since 2015.

Citing monitoring techniques employed by Amazon, Sanders depicted the company as one of the “most dangerous” places to work in America, asserting that workers are pressured and intimidated into exhausting themselves until they reach a “breaking point.” In 2022 alone, nearly 39,000 injuries were reported at Amazon warehouses, with an OSHA investigation earlier this year uncovering unsafe working conditions in warehouses located in Colorado, Idaho, and New York.

Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, Doug Parker, stated that Amazon’s operational methods create hazardous work conditions, leading to serious worker injuries. Despite Amazon’s soaring profits during the pandemic, the company has experienced significant layoffs in the tech industry, with approximately 16,000 employees being offboarded this year.

Sanders contended that Amazon’s ability to reduce worker injuries during the pandemic diminished as work pace increased when pandemic precautions were lifted. He questioned the company’s higher-than-average industry injury rates and the impact of robotic equipment on workplace injuries.

The HELP committee has requested a comprehensive range of documents from Amazon, including information on turnover rates, available labor, communication regarding hazards, audits, analyses, reviews, and studies shared with executives, as well as the number of calls received by Amazon’s physician hotline. Amazon has until July 5th to comply with the committee’s request.

Furthermore, the committee has created a website to allow Amazon workers to share their experiences and provide confidential information to support the investigation. Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly confirmed that the company has received Chairman Sanders’ letter and is currently in the early stages of reviewing it, according to the Washington Post.

Senator Bernie Sanders, known for his criticism of major corporations regarding anti-union attitudes and workplace conditions, has been an outspoken advocate for workers’ rights. Since assuming the chairmanship of the HELP committee in January, Sanders has been determined to address economic inequality and ensure that the economy works for all Americans, not just the wealthy few.

Sanders stated on Twitter, “The HELP Committee will tell the CEOs and billionaires that they cannot have it all. That our economy has to work for working people, and not just the people on top.” The investigation into Amazon’s workplace conditions represents a significant step toward achieving these goals.