(VitalNews.org) – In a disturbing revelation, Senator Bernie Sanders is blowing the whistle on Amazon’s startling disregard for worker safety, as a Senate report links the company’s relentless production quotas to a spike in worker injuries.
See the tweet below!
Amazon, however, stands firm, denying the allegations and claiming improved safety measures.
The Senate Committee, under Sanders’ leadership, examined internal Amazon documents revealing concerning injury rates in warehouses.
Despite recommendations from the company’s safety personnel to modify quotas to reduce injuries, senior executives allegedly ignored these advisories to maintain high productivity levels.
The report criticizes Amazon for what it characterizes as dangerously high injury rates—findings echoed by a union-supported group asserting Amazon’s rates nearly double the industry average.
Amazon’s own studies, namely Project Elderwand and Project Soteria, identified a link between the speed of work and injury incidence, recommending adjustments that were not implemented.
Bernie Sanders condemned the tech giant for its alleged prioritization of profits over worker safety, cited by The New York Times.
He stated, “The shockingly dangerous working conditions at Amazon’s warehouses revealed in this 160-page report are beyond unacceptable. Amazon’s executives repeatedly chose to put profits ahead of the health and safety of its workers by ignoring recommendations that would substantially reduce injuries.”
In contrast, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel dismissed the report as outdated and unverifiable.
She said, “Sen. Sanders’ report is wrong on the facts and weaves together out-of-date documents and unverifiable anecdotes to create a preconceived narrative.”
According to the Senate report, a third internal study disputed the connection between work pace and injuries, suggesting instead that individual worker predispositions play a significant role.
Moreover, allegations arose that Amazon routinely makes it challenging for injured workers to seek necessary medical care, often favoring internal treatment, a claim fiercely denied by Amazon.
In response to findings, federal and state regulators, including OSHA, have cited Amazon for safety breaches.
California regulators have gone further, fining Amazon for quota-related violations.
Amazon brushed off internal warnings about worker injuries, Senate probe finds https://t.co/OBY6mw6nXs
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 17, 2024
Still, Amazon has appealed several citations, maintaining its assertion that safety has improved and injury rates have decreased.
Employees have off-the-record shared incidents of penalization for not achieving production targets, contradicting Amazon’s stance on flexible performance goals.
Bernie Sanders and the Senate Committee’s findings bring to light a troubling picture, pushing for transparency and accountability regarding Amazon’s practices.
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