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Two months after the Amazon workers' day-long strike all over the world, the big "disruptor" is facing another disruption of the workplace – this time by technical workers at his Seattle headquarters .
The Amazon Employees for Climate Justice Group ad this week, she would join the September 20 global climate change strike led by activist Greta Thunberg, 16. Employees are asking Amazon to commit to zero emissions by 2030, canceling the company's customary contracts that accelerate oil and gas extraction, and stop funding deny lobbyists and politicians.
Last year, basic technicians withdrew from sexual harassment Google and sale to migrant detention centers by the online retailer Wayfair. Technicians also organized a broader movement called #TechWontBuildIt to oppose contracts with the US Immigration and Customs and Customs and Border Protection.
But according to Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, the first walkout next week will be the first employee of the company's offices, as well as the first in the technology industry facing the climate crisis. More than 1,000 employees currently have committed to participate via an online form.
This action stems from the desire of Amazon employees earlier this year to adopt a shareholder resolution asking Jeff Bezos to create a comprehensive plan to combat climate change. After a group of workers announced its intention to present this resolution, Amazon responded by announcing a "Shipment Zero" program aimed at making 50% of its carbon-neutral shipments by 2030. Over 8 000 employees of Amazon have signed a open letter in April, derogating from this plan as insufficient and calling on society to do more.
In May, the shareholders rejected the climate resolution, but the group continued to organize as employees of Amazon for Climate Justice (AECJ).
In these times Catherine Han, software developer at Amazon, about the historic dismantling and organization of technical workers.
Rebecca Burns: Have you ever participated in organization or action at the workplace?
Catherine Han: No, it's the first time I'm involved in something like this.
How were you involved with Amazon Employees for Climate Justice?
The stewardship of the environment has always been something that really fascinated me. But my involvement was mainly in volunteer work – with different conservation groups, trail work, etc. Nothing super formal.
At work, many of my colleagues are very concerned about the environment. We would have a lot of discussions about climate change and what we could do, but it was always from a personal point of view. Joining a group at work did not really come to mind.
I heard about this group after the announcement of the letter to shareholders last year, and to involve me was a really telling experience for me. We bring a voice to this huge problem that previously had caused a lot of individual concern.
Why did the group decide to go on strike?
The call to action for the climate change strike really came from the young people who organized it. They launched a call for action for a global movement. We wanted to show solidarity and respond to this call, but also push Amazon to show leadership in climate.
Was it difficult to bring in colleagues?
There have been many very positive answers and many easy conversations.
I think some of the most negative or hesitant reactions often come from inexperienced people with organized action. It is therefore a malaise with the unknown.
I think it is generally accepted that being a technician in one of the most powerful technology companies in the world is an opportunity to raise the profile of the climate crisis and show what we expect from our leaders.
If we can come together and have a company-wide commitment to achieve zero emissions by 2030, it will give workers the means to define the elements needed to achieve it.
What do you think of Amazon's response to the climate crisis so far? Your group highlighted some of the issues related to the "Zero Shipping" plan announced by Amazon earlier this year. Although the company is committed to making half of its carbon neutral shipments by 2030, for example, this could still lead to a net increase in emissions if shipments continue to grow.
For us, given the science and the time left to make a substantial impact on the trajectory of the climate crisis, Shipment Zero is not aggressive enough.
The important thing was that this be a response to the letter to shareholders. So, one of the biggest things to remember for me is that organized action works. Following the letter to shareholders, we found a positive response from Amazon. For me, it was really exciting to see, and that makes me optimistic about the walkout and the power of that.
Was this the first time you saw the success of a collective action?
I've really seen the power of organized action a few years ago when walking women. I went to the Seattle Walk and it was one of the first organized actions in which I participated. Seeing power in numbers has really opened my eyes.
My experience with the climate change movement within Amazon has been similar. For many people, it's the first time they're involved in an organization like this. I think finding a voice together has been a very transformative experience for many people who have been involved.
Earlier this year, workers from Europe, as well as Minnesota and Chicago, organized coordinated walkouts and other actions during the First Day celebration. Working conditions in Amazon warehouses are often very bad and many environmental justice issues are associated – warehouses are more likely to be located in low – income neighborhoods and communities of color, and cause air pollution, noise, traffic safety and other problems in the vicinity.
Do you think the climate you organize is related to the work of the warehouse workers?
Amazon's climate justice workers were undoubtedly in favor of the strikes. We focus on climate justice, and part of the climate crisis is that it has a disproportionate impact on impoverished communities.
We published a declaration of solidarity this articulates this:
Our support for our colleagues in Minnesota is naturally part of our priorities for climate justice. We can not create a sustainable and long-term approach to dealing with the climate crisis without eliminating the racial and economic structural inequalities that are part of our extraction system – energy, equipment and work. which caused the crisis.
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