Bernie Sanders Calls on Amazon to Improve Workers' Conditions

[Uncle Joe]

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders took to twitter Monday to reiterate concerns over Amazon.com Inc. worker conditions. Responding to a critical report, he wrote that Amazon “must recognize that workers’ rights don’t stop at the minimum wage.”

(snip)

It’s a familiar cry from the Vermont Senator. Last fall Sanders pressed Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos on the rights of Whole Foods workers to organize.

(snip)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-11/bernie-sanders-calls-on-amazon-to-improve-workers-conditions

I'm not sure how to transfer an actual twitter post to D.U. or if we can copy and paste but it's on the link.

[TexasTowelie]

1. Here is the Twitter link:

Link to tweet

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

4. Leave it to Bernie to lead on this issue!! Why he's the voice of the People, for the People!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[TwilightZone]

11. Well, obviously, AOC was out front on the issue a month ago.

You might have seen it in the news. It got some attention.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Thank you TexasTowelie

[TexasTowelie]

18. You're welcome. I thought that I'd save everyone the trouble since this is the topic of this thread.

For future reference, you can copy a tweet by clicking on the bird icon in the upper right corner. This will open a new tab in your browser. Go to the new tab and to the right of the follow button is a drop-down arrow. Click on the arrow, then select "Copy link to Tweet". Return back to the original tab and paste the link.

[Uncle Joe]

20. Thank you again.

[George II]

2. Why does he continue to sell his books on Amazon?

[sheshe2]

6. Read some of the comments on the twitter thread.

[Tipperary]

49. Damn, I wish I did the twitter thing.

Those would be interesting.

[sheshe2]

51. I don't do twitter either...

However if you click on the tweet it will take you to the thread and you can read down.

[Tipperary]

58. Thanks, I saw your other post and was able to do just that!

[sheshe2]

59. Cool!

[Lancero]

45. Not a whole lot of choice these days...

What with Amazon, according to some here, being to big to break up.

[sheshe2]

3. here ya go.

Link to tweet

Follow the thread there. The comments are .....interesting.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Thank you sheshe.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Do you agree with his message? n/t

[sheshe2]

14. Not really, because:

He should practice what he preaches.

Two questions.

1. Why not Walmart as well?

2. Why does he not boycott this company? He profits from the sale of his books on Amazon.

It is like voting against the Iraq war...then voting to fund it.

[Uncle Joe]

23. Bernie has been calling on Walmart as well

Bernie Sanders wants Walmart to raise worker wages

Senator Bernie Sanders plans to unveil legislation on Thursday titled The Stop Walmart Act, aimed at raising wages at the retail giant. Walmart, along with Amazon, American Airlines and several other large companies, have drawn Sanders' ire because he says they don't pay workers a living wage.

Sanders points out that the Walton family, heirs to Walmart's founder and one of the richest families in the US, have seen their wealth grow. The company earned $13 billion in profits last year, while the median worker is paid just over $19,000 a year.

(snip)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/13/business/walmart-wages-sanders/index.html

Bernie has never pushed to boycott Amazon or Walmart but for them to improve their wages and labor practices.

Boycotting these companies would no doubt end up hurting the employees more than anybody else.

[sheshe2]

35. And no comment about the books.

[Uncle Joe]

37. As I stated Bernie is calling on Amazon to go farther in regards to improving labor conditions.

He has not called on a boycott but if he had, I have no doubt he would include his books

As I stated on my last post, I believe a boycott would end up hurting the workers more than anyone else.

[sheshe2]

39. Ummhmm.

Never said he called for one. Yet for a company that he demonizes I am a bit surprised he sells his books there.

[Uncle Joe]

40. Bernie doesn't "demonize" Amazon, he criticizes them, legitimately so and the workers

to my knowledge have not called for a boycott.

They're asking to be able to unionize without harassment and for better working conditions as too many have become suicidal or had those thoughts.

"I never gave anybody hell. I just told the truth and they think it's hell."

Harry Truman

[sheshe2]

41. When I mentioned boycott, I never meant the workers.

I meant the consumers and with Amazon the sellers, the ones that make a profit from the sale of their goods.

Not saying my lone voice meant anything when I boycotted Target for over a year. Yet they demonized LGBTQ and I wouldn't support a company that did. They changed their stance and I went back.

[Uncle Joe]

42. If the workers called for a boycott from consumers or went on strike

then I would be all for a boycott.

As the workers; are not asking for a boycott from the consumers but are asking for the right to unionize without harassment and for better working conditions then I believe in following that course and staying with them

Being the workers' jobs and financial well beings at stake, I believe it wise and I believe Bernie believes in listening to their needs first and using whatever "bully pulpit" that he has even if only as a Senator from a small state and primary candidate for the high office.

[Tipperary]

63. Yep. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

8. Tell 'em Bernie!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

10. And yet the Sanders book sales continue on Amazon. I wonder why that is?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. Do you understand calling for working conditions to be improved is not the same...

... as calling for a boycott?

noun
noun: boycott; plural noun: boycotts
1.
a punitive ban that forbids relations with certain groups, cooperation with a policy, or the handling of goods.

Calling for working conditions to be improved: Well, is calling for working conditions to be improved.


Hope that clears things up.

[George II]

21. And yet the Sanders book sales continue on Amazon. I wonder why that is?

[Docreed2003]

30. I'm not saying it's hypocritical

But it does reek of that...

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

25. LOL... seems simple enough!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

27. You would think so.

[littlemissmartypants]

43. Hahaha! NT

[George II]

47. And yet the Sanders book sales continue on Amazon. I wonder why that is?

[Uncle Joe]

48. Because Amazon's workers; aren't calling for a boycott from consumers which would mostly

end up damaging them.

They are asking for better working conditions and the right to form a union without harassment and Bernie is listening to their concerns.

[George II]

50. You guys keep deflecting to Amazon's workers. This is a discussion about Sanders....

He repeatedly rails against Amazon yet he supports them financially by allowing his books to be sold through them. Same thing with Walmart. It would be so simple and make a statement if he withdrew sales of his books from both.

Legislators and people with a "soap box" should at least make an effort to set an example.

[Uncle Joe]

53. Because this is all about Amazon's workers, their needs, which political leaders are

supporting them and which are remaining silent.

The workers aren't asking for a symbolic "statement" they're asking for support.

[George II]

56. So its a twist on the age old "do as I say, not as I do". Got it. Actually I had it....

.....several years ago.

[Uncle Joe]

57. ...

?itemid=5439351

[David__77]

44. Yep. I'm not aware of amazon workers calling for a boycott.

It would be great if Amazon workers had connective bargaining rights.

[LanternWaste]

60. Of course it's not the same thing, it is however, dissembling.

Among other things (because only a lazy mind thinks it's one and only one thing).

But I get it... it's important we rationalize the irrational. Sacred cows often compel us to do so.

"Hope that clears things up" Part II

[flamingdem]

12. Bernie was truly effective in getting Amazon to raise wages

Glad to see attention being brought to other issues facing Amazon and Whole Foods employees.

[LovingA2andMI]

13. Amazon....

Pays its workers a minimum of $15.00, Immediate 401K with up to 7% match, up to 12 weeks of months paid maternity leave at 100% and up to six months in total at 80%, Tuition Reimbursement and More. Maybe Bernie needs to catch up.

[sheshe2]

15. Thank you, LovingA2and MI!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. You can Thank Bernie for the $15 dollar piece!

Thank you, Bernie!

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-raises-minimum-wage-to-15-dollars-2018-10

Amazon is raising its minimum wage to $15 following pressure from Bernie Sanders

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

26. Thanks Bernie!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[samnsara]

55. our entire state where amazon is located was already going for the 15$ min wage..

[Hassin Bin Sober]

65. Here's a piece of trivia for you: Amazon operates in more than your state

[Uncle Joe]

16. "What's wrong with Amazon?

"Deadly Dehumanizing Working Conditions."

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/rwdsu/pages/31/attachments/original/1543251619/What%27s_Wrong_With_Amazon.pdf?1543251619

[LovingA2andMI]

19. Amazon pledges minimum wage of $15 an hour for all U.S. workers

"Amazon announced Tuesday it will pay all its U.S. workers at least $15 an hour from next month, amid criticism of conditions for employees.

“We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, in a press release. “We’re excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us.”

The company said it was raising its minimum wage, including for part-time, temporary and seasonal employees, beginning next month — and lobbying for a national hike in the federal minimum wage.

"We will be working to gain Congressional support for an increase in the federal minimum wage. The current rate of $7.25 was set nearly a decade ago," said Jay Carney, senior vice president of Amazon global corporate affairs.

Amazon's announcement comes as the U.S. labor market has continued to improve, with hourly wages growing and more Americans voluntarily leaving jobs.

The Seattle-based ecommerce giant employs 250,000 full-time workers in the U.S. out of a worldwide total workforce of 575,000. Amazon also said it will offer the minimum wage to "over 100,000 seasonal employees who will be hired at Amazon sites across the country this holiday season."

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/amazon-pledges-minimum-wage-15-hour-all-u-s-workers-n915746

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. I'm sure Bernie knows about the $15 bucks an hour since he got it done.

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-raises-minimum-wage-to-15-dollars-2018-10

Amazon is raising its minimum wage to $15 following pressure from Bernie Sanders

[LovingA2andMI]

29. He did not do diddly.....

Amazon did that. Bernie doesn't control Amazon. His cult following, is another story. #FYI

[Hassin Bin Sober]

31. Revisionist history.

[Lancero]

46. Sure Amazon was the one that raised their minimum wage, but they did it in response to something...

http://fortune.com/2018/09/05/bernie-sanders-stop-bezos-act/

Can we go as far to say that this was the only thing that caused their change? Not really. Amazon has been getting shit for years over poor wages especially considering their treatment of workers. But with how the timing went, it's not a stretch to say that Sanders actions were the straw that broke the camels back.

[WeekiWater]

28. Tell me about the legislation he is proposing.

That might open the conversation up a bit.

[Uncle Joe]

32. I don't know of any new legislation that Bernie is pushing since last fall but here is a

little information from a different source.

Emergency workers were summoned to Amazon warehouses 189 times for employees' "suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts and other mental health episodes" over the last five years, according to a new Daily Beast report.

The incidents reported by The Daily Beast spanned 46 warehouses in 17 states, comprising about a quarter of the company's centers in the United States.

Labor activists and lawmakers have long criticized Amazon over its bruising working conditions, pointing to reports that found Amazon warehouse workers were treated like robots, forced to urinate in bottles in order to save time and lived in fear of harsh treatment by managers. Multiple Amazon workers have spoken up on the issue, with some groups of employees pushing to unionize.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of the company's most vociferous critics in Congress, responded to The Daily Beast's reporting by calling on Amazon to "recognize that workers' rights don't stop at the minimum wage."

(snip)

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/433561-emergency-workers-summoned-to-amazon-warehouses-189-times-for-suicidal

There is more detailed information in this article than the OP.

[WeekiWater]

36. That leaves just as much unanswered.

Trump also tweets about Amazon.

[Hortensis]

54. No new post offices to name. Even he can only do so much

in an era when post offices are closing in large numbers.

[forklift]

33. Beating up on Amazon during a campaign

What a novel idea !!!

[Demsrule86]

66. And here in Ohio we have a warehouse and Amazon pays much better than other jobs in the area.

[NurseJackie]

34. Anyone can read a laundry-list of problems, gripes, complaints. That's the easy part.

What we need is someone who has actual solutions. Realistic proposals that aren't pie-in-the-sky, and that have a chance of getting support in the REAL WORLD.

We must, we oughta, we needa, we shoulda, they haffta, they coulda... that's all fine and dandy. But what has he actually DONE... what are the actual workable and proposed legislation.

[OilemFirchen]

38. Has he spoken yet about the dismal treatment of Google's female employees?

Google Employees Walk Out To Protest Company's Treatment Of Women

Organizers are calling for an end to forced arbitration, a commitment from the company to end inequities in pay and opportunity, a publicly disclosed sexual harassment transparency report, and a safe and anonymous process for reporting sexual misconduct at Google.

The employee protest comes a week after The New York Times published an extensive report on sexual harassment at the company. Andy Rubin, the creator of the Android software operating system, was accused by a female colleague of coercing her to perform oral sex on him in 2013, the Times reports.

...

Some demands relate directly to Google's workforce gender makeup: Only 31 percent of its global workforce and just over a quarter of its executives are women.

Others relate to the company's treatment of sexual harassment. Currently, the company requires employees to waive their right to sue in cases of sexual harassment and often includes confidentiality agreements, the Times reports.

No?

Could this be why?

Top Contributors, federal election data for Bernie Sanders, 2016 cycle

Contributor Total
Alphabet Inc $361,408

[LongtimeAZDem]

52. C'mon; he hasn't even really responded about the treatment of his own campaign's female employees

[forklift]

61. Here is Bernie again trying to grab headlines

with a minor issue.


Amazon pays well and has some of the most sophisticated systems to lower worker stress and worker fatigue.

Less than 1% of the employees have ever complained and they always get 100 job applications for every post they fill.

Bernie should stop such stunts.

[Uncle Joe]

62. Here is another headline for you "'Colony of Hell': 911 Calls From Inside Amazon Warehouses"

(snip)

There was the suicidal employee in Hebron, Kentucky, who police said “is pregnant and threatening the baby” in December 2016. The 22-year-old woman in Joliet, Illinois, who said she wanted to “stab herself in the stomach” that same month. And the young man who threatened to “jump from [the] second floor” of the warehouse in Chester, Virginia, in January 2015.

Between October 2013 and October 2018, emergency workers were summoned to Amazon warehouses at least 189 times for suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, and other mental-health episodes, according to 911 call logs, ambulance and police reports reviewed and analyzed by The Daily Beast.

(snip)

“It’s this isolating colony of hell where people having breakdowns is a regular occurrence,” said Jace Crouch, a former employee at a warehouse in Lakeland, Florida, who had an emotional crisis on the job. It’s “mentally taxing to do the same task super fast for 10-hour shifts, four or five days a week.”

Some employees told The Daily Beast that they struggled with mental health issues before they began working for Amazon. But they believed the exacting work environment made them worse. And in some cases, after they were put on leave, they said they struggled to obtain promised compensation, received counseling they found insufficient or unaffordable, or were even fired.

(snip)

Sometimes Veasley, 41, had to hop up a stepstool to count; sometimes he had to bend over, aggravating his knees and back. Either way, he had to count fast—hundreds of pieces an hour—or a manager tracking his progress in real time would prod him to hurry up. He only occasionally talked to coworkers, knowing a supervisor could track the impromptu break, and the warehouse was nearly silent, aside from the shuffling feet of coworkers and the sliding of bins.

(snip)

https://www.thedailybeast.com/amazon-the-shocking-911-calls-from-inside-its-warehouses?ref=home&via=twitter_page

I don't believe this article has Bernie's name in it.

[forklift]

64. As a scientist I see that article as laughable.

a few dozen people over five years had suicidal thoughts at Amazon facilities.

1. That would be like 0.000012% of Amazon's workforce.

2. No cause-effect relationship is established. It is all coincidence. No comparison with data from FedEx or UPS or the Post Office where people have deadline pressures.

My point stands -- Bernie is grandstanding because the article came out and instead of analyzing it and asking questions like the ones I asked, Bernie is engaging in demagoguery. He could have said the article was shocking and his team is looking at it but he wants to order them to change working conditions while there is not a shred of evidence that working conditions caused any of it.

btw when is he going to release his tax returns? People are waiting .

#whatishehiding

[Uncle Joe]

67. Well here is another headline for the sake of science.

'We are not robots': Thousands of Amazon workers across Europe are striking on Black Friday over warehouse working conditions

(snip)

Thousands of Amazon staff members across Europe were protesting on Black Friday over the way the company treats its warehouse workers.

A coalition of unions across Europe coordinated the action, and the British trade union GMB published a video of workers telling Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos "we are not robots" in five different languages.

(snip)

In a press release sent to Business Insider, the GMB said it was protesting "inhuman conditions" at the warehouses. It cited figures from a Freedom of Information request showing a single Amazon warehouse in Britain had called ambulances to the site 115 times over a three-year period.

(snip)

https://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-amazon-workers-protest-poor-working-conditions-2018-11

This article doesn't have Bernie's name in it either.

[forklift]

68. Meh ... that is Europe

Europeans expect different things and are always striking to get more and more.

My point is that Bernie used the headline in HuffPo for cheap publicity without investigating.

[Uncle Joe]

69. The first article was America, the second article was Europe but this didn't

pique your scientific mind of inquiry?

America

(snip)

It was Nick Veasley’s job to count the items in each one and check the tally against a computer screen to make sure it matched Amazon’s inventory. As soon as he was done, a robot would place another bin in front him—and that’s how it went all night at the warehouse in Etna, Ohio.

(snip)

“They treat us like robots”
Caller: Hi this is Greg, Loss Prevention Specialist with Amazon, calling to report that we have a suicidal person...

Operator: OK what’s he said that’s made him suicidal?

Caller: His initial utterance is that he’d had thoughts of killing himself, he’s expressed two different plans that crossed his mind. One would be to go to a second or third story and throw himself off a balcony and he has also attempted and or thought of a plan of cutting his wrists.

(snip)

“They treat us like robots,” said another employee, who was on leave after making a threat of suicide at a warehouse in Lebanon, Tennessee.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/amazon-the-shocking-911-calls-from-inside-its-warehouses?ref=home&via=twitter_page

Europe

'We are not robots': Thousands of Amazon workers across Europe are striking on Black Friday over warehouse working conditions

(snip)

In a press release sent to Business Insider, the GMB said it was protesting "inhuman conditions" at the warehouses. It cited figures from a Freedom of Information request showing a single Amazon warehouse in Britain had called ambulances to the site 115 times over a three-year period.

https://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-amazon-workers-protest-poor-working-conditions-2018-11

No commonalities eh?