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Amazon’s warehouse working conditions, which have faced increased scrutiny in recent years, are now the focus of a congressional probe led by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
In a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Sanders, who chairs the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, expressed concerns that the company’s pursuit of profits has led to unsafe working environments for warehouse employees, depriving them of adequate medical attention.
“Amazon is fully aware of these hazardous conditions, the life-changing consequences for workers injured on the job, and the measures the company could take to reduce the significant risks of injury,” wrote Sanders, an independent who aligns with the Democratic party. “Yet the company has deliberately chosen not to implement sufficient worker protections because Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, and you, his successor as Chief Executive Officer, have fostered a corporate culture that treats workers as expendable.”
Steve Kelly, an Amazon spokesperson, responded to Sanders’ claims in a statement to CNBC, expressing strong disagreement. Additionally, the company extended an invitation for Sanders to visit one of its warehouses.
Sanders urged Jassy to provide more information regarding Amazon’s injury and turnover rates, as well as data on its on-site medical clinic, AMCARE, dating back to 2019. He also requested information on whether Amazon has conducted internal or third-party examinations into the relationship between warehouse workers’ pace of work and the prevalence or cost of injuries in its facilities.
Jassy has until July 5th to respond to the inquiry. The HELP committee has set up a form on its website for current and former Amazon employees to share their experiences at the company.
Aside from the Senate’s actions, Amazon is facing ongoing federal investigations into its safety record. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are looking into conditions at multiple warehouses, while the Department of Justice is examining potential underreporting of injuries by Amazon.
Amazon asserts that it has made strides in reducing injuries across its operations in the U.S. and continues to invest in safety initiatives. The company has also appealed a series of citations issued by OSHA for safety hazards and violations.
Under Sanders’ leadership, the HELP committee has targeted other companies for their workplace practices. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz testified before the committee in March in response to Sanders’ criticism of the coffee chain’s treatment of workers seeking to unionize. Sanders has also been a vocal critic of Amazon’s labor practices, hosting a Senate Budget Committee hearing in May of last year and inviting Bezos to discuss the company’s stance on unions.
WATCH: Why OSHA is investigating Amazon for ‘failing to keep workers safe’
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