Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont called out Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos on Friday as he expressed solidarity with workers protesting worldwide against the retail giant for better working conditions.
"On #BlackFriday, I stand in solidarity with Amazon workers who are on strikes & walkouts all over the world. If Amazon can afford to pay its CEO $214 million, if Jeff Bezos can afford a $500 million yacht, Amazon can afford to give workers decent raises & end its union busting," he tweeted Friday afternoon.
His remarks come amid protests by labor activists in different parts of the world on Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The global action is organized by the Make Amazon Pay coalition, which is co-convened by UNI Global Union and Progressive International, the latter an organization uniting and mobilizing activists.
The coalition wants Amazon to pay workers "fairly and respects their right to join unions," Progressive International wrote on its website. The groups also want the company to pay its fair share of taxes and commit to plans that ensure environmental sustainability.
On #BlackFriday, I stand in solidarity with Amazon workers who are on strikes & walkouts all over the world. If Amazon can afford to pay its CEO $214 million, if Jeff Bezos can afford a $500 million yacht, Amazon can afford to give workers decent raises & end its union busting.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 25, 2022
"For workers and consumers, the price of everything is going up. And for everyone, the global temperature is rising and our planet is under stress. But instead of supporting its workers, communities and the planet, Amazon is squeezing every last drop it can," the Make Amazon Pay coalition wrote on its website. The coalition also called for Amazon to end its "union-busting tactics."
This marks the third year in which Make Amazon Pay organized a global movement to pressure the company for better wages, among other demands. Workers in previous years held strikes at facilities throughout Germany and organized protests in Bangladesh.
Workers this year were planned to strike in 18 warehouses, organized by trade union ver.di and CGT, in France and Germany, according to Progressive International. Walkouts were also reportedly planned in the U.S. as workers protest in "over 10 cities from coast to coast" and rally in front of Bezos' home in New York City.
James Schneider, communications director at Progressive International, confirmed to Newsweek that the protests and strikes took place on Friday as planned.
"Negotiations, where Amazon recognizes a trade union, continue to take place at that level," Schneider added.
Demands Go Beyond Calls for Better Wages
Workers and labor activists rallied outside Bezos' Manhattan home as part of the global action, including those from the Retail and Wholesale and Department Store Union, NBC New York reported Friday. Protesters want shoppers to spend their money on small and local businesses instead of Amazon's deals.
Kathryne Harper, one of the protesters calling for better wages for Amazon workers, who works at a bookstore in New York City's Williamsburg, Brooklyn, said that customers at the bookstore ask her all the time "if we price-match with Amazon."
"The answer is always no," she told NBC New York. "I have to tell them that we charge full price for books because our workers get things like bathroom breaks and fair wages."
Meanwhile, thousands of workers, street vendors and supporters were set to rally in over 20 cities in India, while workers in Japan planned to protest in front of the headquarters of Amazon Japan LLC, according to Progressive International.
Environmentalists in Ireland were also set to rally outside the Amazon headquarters in Dublin against the planned data centers in the city, which could reportedly consume a great amount of electricity and trigger blackouts.
Thousands of garment workers in Amazon's supply chain in Bangladesh were set to rally and march for better pay and working conditions, union recognition and for the company to sign the Bangladesh Accord, an agreement that helps ensure the safety of workers in the garment industry.
Kelly Nantel, director of Global Media Relations at Amazon, told Newsweek Friday night that Amazon is "inventing and investing significantly" in the matters raised by protesters.
"A coalition of organizations have been encouraging protests at Amazon sites on Black Friday. These groups represent a variety of interests, and while we are not perfect in any area, if you objectively look at what Amazon is doing on these important matters, you'll see that we do take our role and our impact very seriously," Nantel said.
She added that Amazon is playing a "significant" role in addressing climate change through the Climate Pledge commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2040. She also said that the retail giant continues to offer "competitive wages and great benefits."
"[The company is] inventing new ways to keep our employees safe and healthy in our operations network, to name just a few. Anyone can see for themselves by taking a tour at one of our sites," she added.
Update [11/25/2022] 9:58 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to include comments from Kelly Nantel and James Schneider.
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