The Edition
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linkedin icon

Latest

Amazon pulls ad for job tracking union 'threat'

02 September 2020, MVT 20:17
(FILES) In this file photo the Amazon logo is viewed at the 855,000-square-foot Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, on February 5, 2019. - Amazon on August 31, 2020 said a freshly-issued Federal Aviation Administration certificate has cleared the launch pad for drone deliveries in the US. The Seattle-based e-commerce colossus has been developing drones as part of its massive investment in a logistics network to quickly deliver purchases to customers."This certification is an important step forward for Prime Air and indicates the FAA's confidence in Amazon's operating and safety procedures for an autonomous drone delivery service that will one day deliver packages to our customers around the world," Amazon vice president David Carbon said in reply to an AFP inquiry. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP)
02 September 2020, MVT 20:17

Amazon on Tuesday pulled a job ad seeking an analyst to monitor the "threat" of labor organizing at the e-commerce behemoth, which has resisted unionization since its founding.

Images of the posting shared by nonprofit pro-labor group Athena described a search for an analyst on "sensitive topics that are highly confidential including labor organizing threats against the company".

Amazon did not provide any details about the job posting, but a company spokeswoman told AFP: "The job post was not an accurate description of the role – it was made in error and has since been corrected".

Athena, a coalition which is focused specifically on Amazon's corporate activity and treatment of workers, said workers, have complained of being targeted by the company for speaking out on labor issues.

"This job description is proof that Amazon intends to continue on this course," Athena director Dania Rajendra.

"The public deserves to know whether Amazon will continue to fill these positions, even if they're no longer publicly posted."

Rajendra called on public officials to rein in Amazon's power.

In a petition filed early this year with the Federal Trade Commission, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and other labor groups claiming to represent a total of 5.3 million workers accused Amazon of anticompetitive practices.

"The company's dominance allows it to squeeze profit from and reduce choice among workers, consumers, merchants and competitors," read a copy of the 28-page petition available online.

The unions wanted the FTC to investigate whether the Seattle-based company is using its clout to push down wages for its workers and in labor markets in general.

San Francisco, United States | AFP

Share this story

Topics

Amazon

Discuss

MORE ON WORLD