Amazon settles in with fired technicians who criticized the company

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Amazon settled Wednesday with two former technicians it sacked after criticizing the e-commerce giant’s handling of warehouse workers and its impact on climate change.

Why it matters: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found in April that Amazon had illegally fired Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa.

The NLRB told the company it would accuse it of unfair labor practices unless it comes to an agreement with the workers, The New York Times reported at the time.

Background: Cunningham and Costa joined dozens of Amazon workers last year in reporting the company’s retaliation to the labor board.

While Amazon has long faced accusations of unfair labor practices, scrutiny has intensified during the pandemic, notes Shawna Chen of Axios. Amazon warehouse workers are considered essential workers and cannot work from home, increasing their potential exposure to the coronavirus.

What they say: Cunningham and Costa said in a joint statement that the settlement was “a victory for the protection of workers’ rights and shows that we were right to stand up for each other, for justice and for our world “.

“It is also not for us that we are two women who have been targeted for being fired,” they added. “Inequalities, racism and sexism are at the heart of both the climate crisis and the pandemic. “

The other side: An Amazon spokesperson did not address the inequality allegations when contacted by Axios, but said in an emailed statement: “We have come to a mutual agreement which resolves the legal issues in this matter and we welcome the resolution of this matter. “

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