Sanders calls on Biden to cut Amazon out of U.S. federal contracts

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks at an Amazon facility throughout an Amazon Labour Union (ALU) rally in Staten Island, New York Metropolis, U.S., April 24, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photograph

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders on Tuesday referred to as for President Joe Biden to challenge an govt order to chop off federal contracts to Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) till the e-commerce firm stops what he described as “unlawful anti-union exercise.”

“As you might know, Amazon, one of many largest and most worthwhile companies in America, is the poster baby as to why this anti-union busting Government Order is required now greater than ever,” Sanders mentioned in a letter to Biden, which was reported earlier by Politico.

Staff at an Amazon warehouse in New York Metropolis just lately voted to kind the primary union on the second-largest U.S. non-public employer. Amazon objected and accused the union of threatening staff until they voted to arrange, an allegation denied by the labor group. learn extra

Amazon staff from greater than 100 different U.S. work websites have expressed curiosity in unionizing.

In his letter, Sanders additionally raised issues over Amazon’s classification of its drivers as impartial contractors somewhat than staff, which gives them with a narrower set of advantages whereas stopping them from forming a union.

Amazon didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark late on Tuesday.

“Taxpayer {dollars} mustn’t go to corporations like Amazon and multi-billionaires like Jeff Bezos who repeatedly break the legislation,” Sanders mentioned in a speech on the Senate ground on Tuesday night.

Biden has ousted authorities officers deemed by unions to be hostile to labor and reversed guidelines of former President Donald Trump that critics mentioned weakened employee protections. learn extra

Sanders urged Biden to go additional and cut-off federal contracts for corporations seen as “union busters”.

“At this time I say to President Biden; you promised to forestall union busters like Amazon from receiving profitable contracts from the federal authorities. Preserve that promise,” Sanders mentioned on the Senate ground.

Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Modifying by Stephen Coates

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