Dear John, 

 

On Friday night, at least six people working at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois were killed when the warehouse collapsed in a tornado. Dozens more workers were pulled from the rubble, and first responders continue to search the scene.¹

 

Our hearts are heavy thinking of the families who have lost loved ones, and the injured people whose lives will never be the same. We're also angry. Why did Amazon keep people at work while tornados raged in the area? Why won’t the corporation answer questions about what it did to protect workers?

 

So far, Amazon appears to have offered nothing but “thoughts and prayers.”² The morning after the collapse, founder Jeff Bezos responded by launching another rocket into space.³ And local news reported that Amazon told people working at the warehouse across the street from the collapsed building they had to show up to work the day after the collapse.⁴

 

Sadly, this isn’t the first time Amazon has forced people to stay on job in the face of extreme weather. Earlier this year during record heat waves, Amazon demanded warehouse workers meet grueling quotas — leading to reports of nausea, dizziness, and fainting.⁵

 

Our partners in the Athena coalition have set up a fundraiser for the families of those who were killed or injured in the warehouse collapse at AthenaForAll.org/tornado. If you are able, we encourage you to join us in supporting these families during this moment. 100% of the funds raised will go directly to those impacted.

 

This tragedy makes clear once again that Amazon will put profits before people’s lives and wellbeing — unless we step up to demand better. In 1911 after the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist fire, thousands organized and won safer working conditions and union protections. Today, we must organize once again to hold corporations like Amazon to account.

 

With solidarity in this tragic moment,

1. https://abc7chicago.com/edwardsville-tornado-il-amazon-warehouse/11324601/ 
2. As of 6pm PT on 12/12/2021 there is no statement on Amazon’s press page. Current CEO Andrew Jassy has tweeted this, executive chairman and largest shareholder Jeff Bezos has tweeted this, and CEO of Worldwide Consumer Dave Clark tweeted this.
3. https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-criticized-late-response-amazon-warehouse-collapse-illinois-tornado-2021-12 
4. https://twitter.com/skeletonpup/status/1469581653710458880 
5. https://www.vice.com/en/article/88nv7g/amazon-workers-describe-excessive-heat-fainting-in-nyc-warehouse; https://www.comicsands.com/seattle-amazon-warehouse-productivity-contest-2653618587.html 

 

PowerSwitch Action
1305 Franklin St.
Suite 501
Oakland, CA 94612
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.