As we head into the busiest shopping season of the year, we are reminded of the
stark contrast between the holiday cheer we are being sold and what is actually happening behind the scenes -- specifically, at Amazon.While current CEO Andy Jassy and founder/former CEO Jeff Bezos profit massively from the endless consumerism and global shopping boom,
Amazon's workers continue to suffer from brutal conditions, low pay, and a complete disregard for their rights. And this time of year, it's worse than ever.
Sign to stand with Amazon workers around the globe!This Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Amazon workers across more than 20 countries
went on strike, demanding basic human dignity from their employer. Led by UNI Global Union and Progressive International,
these workers called for better pay, improved rights, fair taxation, and meaningful action to tackle climate change. Yet, instead of investing in their workers or the environment,
Amazon has downplayed these protests and attacked their credibility. It's clear the company -- valued at over two trillion dollars --
plans to continue to exploit and mistreat its employees, raking in profits while they endure inhumane conditions.
Workers at Amazon's warehouses are pushed beyond their limits, working endless hours under pressure with little relief. Many suffer from
extreme stress, injuries, and unsafe working conditions, with little to no support for mental health or proper work-life balance. Most recently, Amazon workers in India (one of the countries that participated in the protest) were
forced to work straight through a deadly heatwave! This is just the latest in the long list of atrocities humans working at Amazon have had to ensure.
And while Amazon claims to support sustainability, that appears
far from true. This year, Amazon released a report showing that it was hitting its emissions targets, but Amazon Employees for Climate Justice immediately took issue with it and released their own counterreport
. Allegedly, Amazon's report is intentionally misleading, leaving out huge emissions contributions from third-party sellers on its site and playing up purchases in green energy that don't necessarily mean fossil fuels are being used any less. This time of year is meant to be one of joy, but for Amazon workers, it's filled with exhaustion, frustration, and fear. They do the hard work, yet they are treated like disposable assets while Amazon executives and decision-makers grow richer by the day. It's time for Amazon to finally listen to the voices of its workers and take immediate action.
Sign this petition demanding that Amazon respect its workers, pay its fair share in taxes, and take real steps toward sustainability!