Press Contact: Greg Ramirez (206) 850-0539 gramirez@seiu6.org
Seattle Council Members Tell Amazon CEO to Investigate Accusations, Treat Contract Employees Fairly, and Strengthen Seattle's Economy
SEATTLE - "Subcontracted employees deserve respect, too" was the message sent to Amazon Corp. CEO Jeff Bezos this afternoon by Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant and a delegation of community leaders and workers at Amazon's corporate headquarters.
The group presented Amazon executives with a letter, authored by Councilman Mike O'Brien and signed by all nine council members, calling on Bezos to investigate possible human rights violations by security contractor Security Industry Specialists (SIS), which provides security at Amazon in Seattle and to other top tech firms such as Apple and Google in California.
"If any of the workers here today face retaliation for exercising their right to organize, you can expect city council and me personally to take action," said Councilwoman Sawant.
SIS has been accused of possibly violating the city's commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as Amazon's own Supplier Code of Standards and Responsibilities. Current and formerSIS security officers have said they've worked without bathroom breaks and have been threatened or terminated when trying to use paid sick leave. SIS has also been accused of retaliating against employees who try to improve working conditions by forming a union. Such freedom of association is a fundamental constitutional freedom.
In addition to investigating these issues, the council letter also calls on Bezos to respect a previous inquiry from the Seattle Human Rights Commission about the same issue, which has received no response from Amazon to date.
"As one of Seattle's largest employers, we ask that Amazon take full responsibility for ensuring a respect for human rights and national labor law among your direct and subcontracted employees alike," wrote Councilman O'Brien.
Community leaders, local security officers and SIS employees also spoke out against unfair practices at Amazon's headquarters before delivering the letter.
"My faith guided me here today," said Rev. Liz Clayton. "This is about power and how we exercise our power."
"This is about human rights. If we work for a living, we should keep more of the wealth we create," said Levon Dunn, a Seattle-area security office.
"Ensuring that service workers are able to support themselves and their families with living wage jobs is critical to a healthy economy in Seattle. Our economy is strengthened when we build from the middle out. Our environment is healthier when people can live near where they work," wrote Councilman O'Brien. "Our community is more vibrant when working people can afford to live in the city. These goals are advanced when workers can choose whether or not to join a union, free from fear of retaliation."