(31 May 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seattle – 31 May 2023
1. Various of people at rally
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Church Hindley, Amazon worker:
“I'm out here because I refuse to just sit idly by while mandates are dictated from above down that don't make sense and hurt the planet, hurt families and individual lives. And just to get us into a seat at the office for their tax incentives. I'm not here for it."
3. Various of rally
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Church Hindley, Amazon worker:
“I got to spend time with my family. I was able to help raise my kids and actually be a part of their life. They talk like trust me and talk to me instead of just being somebody in and out of the, you know, out of the house when they're sleeping.”
5. Various of people at rally
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Church Hindley, Amazon worker:
“So far, the options that seem to be given are do what you're told or quit. And that's why we're here, because I'm not going to quit and I'm not going to do this.”
7. Various of people at rally
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rebecca Merrett, Amazon worker:
“Remote work has offered a lot of flexibility for myself. But mothers who are returning to the work force are mothers who are, you know, currently in the workforce. It's not that women and also fathers who, you know, before the pandemic, they were able to, you know, travel into the office, but it often resulted in a sacrifice of you either be a parent or you'd be working.”
9. Various of rally
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Pamela Hayter, Amazon worker:
“As tech workers, we were told many times during the pandemic that we were doing our best work, that our productivity was high as it's ever been. We made so much money. And I'm not naive that the shift to remote work will take some adjustments within Amazon, but the benefits far outweigh those adjustments.”
11. People making signs
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Church Hindley, Amazon worker:
“I have the privilege that I do, you know, I can find another job if I have to. I would prefer to just make this place better. So if I get fired because I want to make it better, then so be it.”
13. Hindley making a sign
STORYLINE:
Hundreds of corporate Amazon workers upset about the company’s environmental impact, recent layoffs and a return-to-office mandate protested at its Seattle headquarters.
The lunchtime protest on Wednesday comes a week after the company’s annual shareholder meeting and a month after a policy took effect requiring workers to return to the office three days per week. Previously, team leaders were allowed to determine how their charges worked.
The company said in a statement that it respects its employees’ “rights to express their opinions.”
Amazon, which relies on fossil fuels to power the planes, trucks and vans that ship packages all over the world, has an enormous carbon footprint. Amazon workers have been vocal in criticizing some of the company’s practices.
In an annual statement to investors, Amazon said it aims to deploy 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030 and reach net-zero carbon by 2040. But walkout organizers contend the company must do more and commit to zero emissions by 2030.
Amazon has cut 27,000 jobs since November.
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