Amazon workers walk out over ‘lack of trust’ in leadership
Thousands of Amazon employees across the globe took part in a walkout on Wednesday in protest of the company’s return-to-office mandate, layoffs, and environmental record. Approximately 2,000 workers walked off the job, with about 1,000 staging a protest outside the company’s Seattle headquarters. Organized in part by Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, an influential worker organization, the walkout sought to highlight a “lack of trust in company leadership’s decision making.” Amazon recently initiated its largest layoff in 29 years, cutting 27,000 jobs across several divisions and ordered corporate employees to return to the office at least three days a week.
FAQs:
What is Amazon Employees for Climate Justice?
Amazon Employees for Climate Justice is a group of Amazon workers that addresses climate change by calling on the company to lead on the issue.
What is the walkout about?
The walkout was staged in protest of the company’s return-to-office mandate, recent layoffs, and environmental record.
What were the workers’ demands?
Workers demanded Amazon leadership drop the return-to-office mandate, citing the mandate’s contradiction to the company’s positions on diversity and inclusion, affordable housing, sustainability, and focus on being the “Earth’s Best Employer.” Additionally, workers used the walkout to highlight concerns that Amazon is falling short of its climate commitments.
How many employees took part in the walkout?
Approximately 2,000 employees worldwide participated in the walkout.
What is Amazon’s response to the walkout?
Amazon has so far been pleased with the results of its return-to-office mandate and disputed claims that it is falling short of its climate commitments. The company remains on track to reach 100% renewable energy by 2025 and pushing to be net-zero carbon by 2040.
What is the impact of the walkout on Amazon?
It is currently unclear what impact the walkout may have on Amazon, which recently completed its largest layoff in 29 years.
Amazon employees stage a protest due to a ‘distrust’ towards their leaders
Amazon employees around the world participated in a walkout on Wednesday to protest the company’s recent return-to-office mandate, its layoffs, and its environmental record. In Seattle, approximately 1,000 workers gathered outside the Spheres, the massive glass domes that anchor Amazon’s headquarters. The protest was organized partly by Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, a worker group that has pressed the company repeatedly on its climate stance. The walkout highlights a “lack of trust in company leadership’s decision making,” according to the group. Amazon recently initiated the largest layoffs in its history, cutting 27,000 jobs across multiple divisions and ended remote work arrangements imposed due to the pandemic for corporate employees. Around 300 Amazon workers took part in the protest according to estimates from the company. The walkout comes as employees urge Amazon to drop the policy and continue remote work arrangements.