Friend,

This Labor Day, let’s celebrate the wave of strikes demanding liveable wages, better and safer working conditions, and benefits.

Across the country, workers have been rising up and calling out unacceptable practices at corporations such as Amazon, Frito-Lay, and Nabisco.

Recently, the National Labor Relations Board confirmed that Amazon illegally discouraged union organizing in Alabama. With Amazon’s history of crushing unions, this news is promising for Amazon employees and everyone organizing for worker power.

During the pandemic, I’ve joined my colleague Rep. Debbie Dingell alongside workers at Amazon as they demanded that one of the world’s richest corporations provide a safe working environment.

When we visited a nearby fulfillment center to see for ourselves, we were made to wait more than an hour and a half outside the facility as we watched personnel inside scrambling to clean areas visible to us.

While we waited—and for no apparent reason—Amazon called the police on their Congresswomen. Despite their claims to the contrary, there was no misunderstanding. They knew exactly who we were. Given that treatment, I can only imagine the harassment and intimidation Amazon workers must face for speaking out.

Once we were finally allowed inside, again after an hour and a half spent prepping the facility, we got a firsthand look at the unacceptable and unsafe conditions that concerned Amazon workers had been reporting to our offices.

It’s far past time that Amazon workers share in the corporation’s prosperity, and having a safe workplace is the least Amazon can do.

I won’t stop advocating for Amazon workers’ right to a safe and fair working environment, including by pushing for OSHA investigations—especially since Amazon will open one of Michigan’s largest fulfillment centers in my home city of Detroit.

I’m proud to keep fighting alongside workers of all kinds to hold greedy corporations accountable.

Thank you for joining in the fight, and happy Labor Day.

In solidarity,

Rashida