According to the organizers of the rally, around a hundred protesters marched on Sunday. Former and current Amazon activists were associated with groups including United Teachers Los Angeles, Sunrise LA and Extinction Rebellion, which advocated action to combat climate change.
Chris Small, one of the leaders of the protest, told CBS MoneyWatch, “The world’s richest man made $ 88 billion during the epidemic. It’s time to fight the fight.”
Small worked at an Amazon warehouse in New York City until March, when he conducted a walkout and Was fired shortly thereafter.
The protesters issued a series of demands, including the payment of $ 2 per hour by e-commerce giant Worker, providing more personal protective equipment and an overhaul of how the company did business. They are also urging consumers to boycott Amazon’s Prime Day event, which is scheduled to take place on 13–14 October this year.
It was the latest in a series of protests near several of Bezos’ residences. In August, protesters gathered outside Amazon’s flagship Manhattan mansion and protested later that month at their Washington, DC residence.
“COVID has told a lot about this country,” Small said. “This country is shabby at the moment. Everyone is losing their jobs, small businesses are closing down because of Amazon, people’s lives are being destroyed.”
According to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, Bezos’ personal fortune has soared by $ 70 billion this year as American consumers moved to online shopping while sheltering at home. The company is set to double its warehouse footprint this year Detailed its Number of Employees By about 300,000 in its warehouse and corporate divisions.
Geto Molina / Los Angeles Times via Getty Image
Despite Amazon’s growth during the epidemic, employees have accused it of ignoring its safety concerns, lack of transparency about the extent of coronavirus infections in its facilities, and preventing workers from health problems from working at home. The company briefly mentioned the hourly wage of the workers and initially expanded its time-of-policy. Coronavirus outbreak In america but Brought back both policies this summer.
Last week, Amazon revealed that Its approximately 20,000 workers Had contracted COVID-19. The company said it has a lower than positive rate in the US.
In a statement, Amazon spokesman Maria Boscheti said: “Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our employees, and we are doing everything we can to keep them as safe as possible.”
He said: “The fact is that Amazon is already requesting employee-industry leading salaries, a variety of benefits packages and career development opportunities, all to work in a safe, modern work environment.”
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