On Tuesday, Amazon terminated 2 employees for ‘repeatedly violating internal policies’ and complaining about their working conditions in warehouses.
Maren Costa and Emily Cunningham worked in Seattle as user-experience designers before being fired. Christian Smalls, another employee was also terminated for raising safety concerns for employees working during the pandemic.
The Washington Post reported that the 2 employees were members of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice.
Amazon has been criticized over the unsafe working conditions in warehouses and the way its delivery and retail gig workers work, as cases of COVID-19 were reported in its premises. Other countries have also seen workers protesting.
Amazon said it has stood by “every employee’s right to criticize their employer’s working conditions, but that does not come with blanket immunity against any and all internal policies.”
Amazon is improving the safety protocols, keeping warehouses functional, and shipping essential goods to customers for controlling the spread of coronavirus.
Mayor Bill de Blasio had ordered the city’s Human Rights Commission to investigate and look into Christian Smalls’ allegations last month.
Five Democratic lawmakers have also written a letter to Amazon questioning the allegations.
