Bernie Sanders Calls on Amazon to Prioritise Worker Safety

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is taking action against Amazon for their dangerous working conditions in their warehouses. 

In a letter to CEO Andy Jassy, Sanders demands information on injury rates, turnover, productivity targets, and adherence to federal and state safety guidelines. 

As the second-largest employer in the US, Amazon must provide information about their adherence to safety standards and more. 

According to the Washington Post, Amazon's serious injury rate in 2021 was double the warehouse industry average. 

Sanders calls on Amazon to prioritise safety, noting that it should be one of the safest places to work, rather than one of the most dangerous. “Amazon is one of the most valuable companies in the world, worth $1.3tn and its founder, Jeff Bezos, is one of the richest men in the world worth nearly $150bn,” Sanders wrote in the letter. “Amazon should be one of the safest places in America to work, not one of the most dangerous.”

While Amazon has started reviewing Sanders' letter, they have spent $14.2 million to resist unionisation efforts and workers continue to report poor treatment. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also found that Amazon warehouse jobs are more dangerous than comparable companies. 

Sanders has previously taken a strong stance against union-busting campaigns by companies such as Starbucks and is considering calling Amazon's executives to testify. Amazon's actions set an example for the rest of the corporate world, and Sanders is determined to ensure that workplace safety and workers' rights are not compromised.

- CyberBeat