Amazon.com Inc should review how it is addressing racial justice and equity after a shareholder proposal on the topic won strong backing, New York state`s top pension official said on Friday. 
 
A filing on Friday showed 44 per cent&nbsp;of votes cast supported a call for a review of the company`s impact on equity, diversity and other areas proposed by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli at Amazon`s annual meeting on May 26, a high total for such a measure. 
 
DiNapoli said the measure would have received a majority but for the 14 per cent&nbsp;stake held by CEO Jeff Bezos, a sign of investor dissatisfaction at the leading online retailer. 
 
"Shareholders sent a loud message to Amazon that they want the company to do more to address racial diversity, equity and inclusion. It`s time for Amazon to listen to its investors," DiNapoli said in an emailed-statement. 
 
Amazon had previously said the measure did not win a majority but it did not give the voting breakdown. 
 
An Amazon representative said the company has "initiated numerous programs to assess and address racial justice considerations across key aspects of our operations that we believe fully address the objectives of this proposal.” 
 
The call for the racial equity audit received the highest level of support among 11 shareholder proposals at Wednesday`s meeting. 
 
Another, calling for Amazon to consider adding an hourly worker to its board of directors received support from 17 per cent&nbsp;of votes cast, the filing showed. 
 
Proposals with such low levels of support are rarely adopted, although the figure was about twice what similar calls for workers-on-boards have received at other companies in recent years. 
 
The measure, which received a rare endorsement from Institutional Shareholder Services, was closely watched at the annual meeting after a union organising effort at the company failed in April.

Amazon.com Inc should review how it is addressing racial justice and equity after a shareholder proposal on the topic won strong backing, New York state`s top pension official said on Friday.

Amazon.com Inc should review how it is addressing racial justice and equity after a shareholder proposal on the topic won strong backing, New York state`s top pension official said on Friday. A filing on Friday showed 44 per cent of votes cast supported a call for a review of the company`s impact on equity, diversity and other areas proposed by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli at Amazon`s annual meeting on May 26, a high total for such a measure. DiNapoli said the measure would have received a majority but for the 14 per cent stake held by CEO Jeff Bezos, a sign of investor dissatisfaction at the leading online retailer. "Shareholders sent a loud message to Amazon that they want the company to do more to address racial diversity, equity and inclusion. It`s time for Amazon to listen to its investors," DiNapoli said in an emailed-statement. Amazon had previously said the measure did not win a majority but it did not give the voting breakdown. An Amazon representative said the company has "initiated numerous programs to assess and address racial justice considerations across key aspects of our operations that we believe fully address the objectives of this proposal.” The call for the racial equity audit received the highest level of support among 11 shareholder proposals at Wednesday`s meeting. Another, calling for Amazon to consider adding an hourly worker to its board of directors received support from 17 per cent of votes cast, the filing showed. Proposals with such low levels of support are rarely adopted, although the figure was about twice what similar calls for workers-on-boards have received at other companies in recent years. The measure, which received a rare endorsement from Institutional Shareholder Services, was closely watched at the annual meeting after a union organising effort at the company failed in April.

Amazon pressed for racial equity review after strong vote tally

E-commerce giant Amazon reportedly fired two of its employees for revealing the true nature of working conditions in the company during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic. The US National Labor Relations Board found that the dismissal of employees was illegal.

Last year, Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa were terminated after they accused Amazon of enforcing discriminatory policies and for having vague rules that “chill and restrain” its staff from exercising their rights, Reuters cited the October charge as alleging.

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Both Cunningham and Costa had pushed Amazon to do more about climate change. Later, they questioned the safety being offered to employees in the midst of the pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/amazon-acknowledges-issue-of-drivers-urinating-in-bottles-in-apology-to-rep-pocan-375265" hreflang="en">Amazon acknowledges issue of drivers urinating in bottles in apology to Rep Pocan</a>

Amazon has responded, claiming that it supports the rights of workers to criticise work conditions, but that in the process of doing so, staff members cannot be absolved of breaking rules.

"We terminated these employees not for talking publicly about working conditions, safety, or sustainability, but rather, for repeatedly violating internal policies," Amazon’s statement said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/employees-pee-in-bottles-undercover-writer-reveals-amazons-poor-work-conditions-373450" hreflang="en">'Employees pee in bottles': Undercover writer reveals Amazon's poor work conditions</a>

If the case is not settled soon, the labour board will issue a complaint,&nbsp;it stated on Monday.

Amazon is undergoing a watershed moment as its workers take a vote on unionising. The workers in Bessemer, Alabama may witness their warehouse become the first unionised Amazon facility in the United States.

(With inputs from agencies)

E-commerce giant Amazon reportedly fired two of its employees for revealing the true nature of working conditions in the company during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic.

E-commerce giant Amazon reportedly fired two of its employees for revealing the true nature of working conditions in the company during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic. The US National Labor Relations Board found that the dismissal of employees was illegal. Last year, Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa were terminated after they accused Amazon of enforcing discriminatory policies and for having vague rules that “chill and restrain” its staff from exercising their rights, Reuters cited the October charge as alleging. Both Cunningham and Costa had pushed Amazon to do more about climate change. Later, they questioned the safety being offered to employees in the midst of the pandemic. Also read: Amazon acknowledges issue of drivers urinating in bottles in apology to Rep Pocan Amazon has responded, claiming that it supports the rights of workers to criticise work conditions, but that in the process of doing so, staff members cannot be absolved of breaking rules. "We terminated these employees not for talking publicly about working conditions, safety, or sustainability, but rather, for repeatedly violating internal policies," Amazon’s statement said. Also read: 'Employees pee in bottles': Undercover writer reveals Amazon's poor work conditions If the case is not settled soon, the labour board will issue a complaint, it stated on Monday. Amazon is undergoing a watershed moment as its workers take a vote on unionising. The workers in Bessemer, Alabama may witness their warehouse become the first unionised Amazon facility in the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

Amazon illegally dismissed staff critical of work conditions: US labour board

Amazon.com Inc has apologized to U.S. Representative Mark Pocan, admitting to scoring an “own goal” in its initial denial of his suggestion that its drivers were sometimes forced to urinate in bottles during their delivery rounds.

"We know that drivers can and do have trouble finding restrooms because of traffic or sometimes rural routes, and this has been especially the case during Covid when many public restrooms have been closed," the company said in a blog post.

Its admission came a week after the Democrat criticised Amazon’s working conditions, saying in a tweet: “Paying workers $15/hr doesn’t make you a ‘progressive workplace’ when you union-bust &amp; make workers urinate in water bottles.”

Amazon initially issued a denial, saying in a tweet: “You don’t really believe the peeing in bottles thing, do you? If that were true, nobody would work for us.” But it subsequently walked back those comments.

“This was an own goal, we’re unhappy about it, and we owe an apology to Representative Pocan,” Amazon said in its blog post, adding that its previous response only referred to staff at its warehouses or fulfillment centers.

The company said the issue was industry-wide and it would look for solutions, without specifying what these might be.

Amazon’s apology comes at a time when workers at an Alabama warehouse are waiting for a vote count that could result in the online retailer’s first unionized facility in the United States and mark a watershed moment for organized labor.

Amazon has long discouraged attempts among its more than 800,000 U.S. employees to organize. Allegations by many workers of a grueling or unsafe workplace have turned unionizing the company into a key goal for the U.S. labor movement.

Amazon.com Inc has apologized to U.S. Representative Mark Pocan, admitting to scoring an “own goal” in its initial denial of his suggestion that its drivers were sometimes forced to urinate in bottles during their delivery rounds.

Amazon.com Inc has apologized to U.S. Representative Mark Pocan, admitting to scoring an “own goal” in its initial denial of his suggestion that its drivers were sometimes forced to urinate in bottles during their delivery rounds. "We know that drivers can and do have trouble finding restrooms because of traffic or sometimes rural routes, and this has been especially the case during Covid when many public restrooms have been closed," the company said in a blog post. Its admission came a week after the Democrat criticised Amazon’s working conditions, saying in a tweet: “Paying workers $15/hr doesn’t make you a ‘progressive workplace’ when you union-bust & make workers urinate in water bottles.” Amazon initially issued a denial, saying in a tweet: “You don’t really believe the peeing in bottles thing, do you? If that were true, nobody would work for us.” But it subsequently walked back those comments. “This was an own goal, we’re unhappy about it, and we owe an apology to Representative Pocan,” Amazon said in its blog post, adding that its previous response only referred to staff at its warehouses or fulfillment centers. The company said the issue was industry-wide and it would look for solutions, without specifying what these might be. Amazon’s apology comes at a time when workers at an Alabama warehouse are waiting for a vote count that could result in the online retailer’s first unionized facility in the United States and mark a watershed moment for organized labor. Amazon has long discouraged attempts among its more than 800,000 U.S. employees to organize. Allegations by many workers of a grueling or unsafe workplace have turned unionizing the company into a key goal for the U.S. labor movement.

Amazon acknowledges issue of drivers urinating in bottles in apology to Rep Pocan

Workers at Amazon's Alabama warehouse are standing up to the retail giant, with over 5,000 employees set to vote on potential unionisation this month. The workers will decide whether to join one of the oldest retail unions in the US or not.

In the past, Amazon has fought efforts to unionise its American facilities. But now, workers who are backing a union at Amazon won support from the highest levels of the American government, marking the biggest push for a union that Amazon has faced.

This month, workers at the retail giant's Alabama warehouse will decide if they want to unionise. On Monday, pro-union workers won the support of the US President himself. Joe Biden released a video message in which he backed the rights of the workers to unionise without naming Amazon.

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Workers in Alabama – and all across America – are voting on whether to organize a union in their workplace. It’s a vitally important choice – one that should be made without intimidation or threats by employers. 
 
Every worker should have a free and fair choice to join a union. <a href="https://t.co/2lzbyyii1g">pic.twitter.com/2lzbyyii1g</a>
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1366191901196644354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"It's not up to me to decide whether anyone should join a union. But let me be even more clear: it's not up to an employer to decide that either. The choice to join a union is up to the workers - full stop. And there should be no intimidation, no coercion, no threats, no anti-union propaganda", Biden said.

In recent weeks, Amazon has tried to block the voters by blocking an option to cast the votes by mail. If the workers vote to unionise, the Amazon facility in Alabama will be the first warehouse union. Increasingly, workers across America's tech giants are expressing their will to unionise.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-a-historic-vote-for-equal-worker-rights-at-amazon-367260">WATCH |</a>

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At the beginning of this year, more than 200 employees of Google announced they had formed a union - one of the first in an industry that has been hostile to organized labour.

Reportedly, the move by the workers was prompted by growing ethical concerns over the company's work and culture in recent years, especially owing to the fact that not all employees of Google enjoyed the same rights. The final trigger was the controversial departure of an artificial intelligence engineer.

The Alphabet Workers Union now boasts of more than 800 members who say they want to give a voice to every employee of Google.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/digital-colonialism-has-big-tech-become-the-new-east-india-company-364621" hreflang="en">'Digital colonialism': Has big tech become the new East India Company</a>

"The primary goal is to give a voice to the workers... all that we’re being told is to implement the decision that was given to you and when we find that that’s not fitting with the values that we agreed to for the company, we are told that we have to leave. At this point we are trying to make a firm organization that will continuously fight for the values of the company so as each of these different big moments come up, we can make sure than even if an individual gets push out for speaking up, their campaign keeps going on.", Chewy Saw, a software engineer and Alphabet union's vice chair said.

After Google, a union at Amazon could spread the efforts to unionise across big tech. With the American president endorsing the creation of unions, the tech giants may find it harder to ignore these demands this time.

Workers at Amazon's Alabama warehouse are standing up to the retail giant, with over 5,000 employees set to vote on potential unionisation this month. The workers will decide whether to join one of the oldest retail unions in the US or not.

Workers at Amazon's Alabama warehouse are standing up to the retail giant, with over 5,000 employees set to vote on potential unionisation this month. The workers will decide whether to join one of the oldest retail unions in the US or not. In the past, Amazon has fought efforts to unionise its American facilities. But now, workers who are backing a union at Amazon won support from the highest levels of the American government, marking the biggest push for a union that Amazon has faced. This month, workers at the retail giant's Alabama warehouse will decide if they want to unionise. On Monday, pro-union workers won the support of the US President himself. Joe Biden released a video message in which he backed the rights of the workers to unionise without naming Amazon. Workers in Alabama – and all across America – are voting on whether to organize a union in their workplace. It’s a vitally important choice – one that should be made without intimidation or threats by employers. Every worker should have a free and fair choice to join a union. pic.twitter.com/2lzbyyii1g — President Biden (@POTUS) March 1, 2021 × "It's not up to me to decide whether anyone should join a union. But let me be even more clear: it's not up to an employer to decide that either. The choice to join a union is up to the workers - full stop. And there should be no intimidation, no coercion, no threats, no anti-union propaganda", Biden said. In recent weeks, Amazon has tried to block the voters by blocking an option to cast the votes by mail. If the workers vote to unionise, the Amazon facility in Alabama will be the first warehouse union. Increasingly, workers across America's tech giants are expressing their will to unionise. WATCH | At the beginning of this year, more than 200 employees of Google announced they had formed a union - one of the first in an industry that has been hostile to organized labour. Reportedly, the move by the workers was prompted by growing ethical concerns over the company's work and culture in recent years, especially owing to the fact that not all employees of Google enjoyed the same rights. The final trigger was the controversial departure of an artificial intelligence engineer. The Alphabet Workers Union now boasts of more than 800 members who say they want to give a voice to every employee of Google. Also read: 'Digital colonialism': Has big tech become the new East India Company "The primary goal is to give a voice to the workers... all that we’re being told is to implement the decision that was given to you and when we find that that’s not fitting with the values that we agreed to for the company, we are told that we have to leave. At this point we are trying to make a firm organization that will continuously fight for the values of the company so as each of these different big moments come up, we can make sure than even if an individual gets push out for speaking up, their campaign keeps going on.", Chewy Saw, a software engineer and Alphabet union's vice chair said. After Google, a union at Amazon could spread the efforts to unionise across big tech. With the American president endorsing the creation of unions, the tech giants may find it harder to ignore these demands this time.

To Amazon's dismay, warehouse workers set to vote on potential unionisation

Amazon.com Inc has been sued for allegedly fostering the spread of the coronavirus by mandating unsafe working conditions.

Amazon sued over New York worker brings COVID-19 home