Online retail giant, Amazon is reportedly facing trials for sacking an activist Staff earlier this year and will have her case heard in court next year.
The National Labour Relations Board reportedly file a complaint against Amazon after citing documents it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the documents read Courtney Bowden is claiming that Amazon threatened and suspended her before terminating her appointment because she speaks on behalf of other Amazon workers about improving workplace conditions and remuneration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The complaint was granted on 13th of Nov. in Bowden’s case by the National Labour Relations Board, it was reported that Amazon “has been interfering with, restraining and coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed” by the National Labour Relations Act.
The hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2021
Other activist staff who voiced out about alleged unsafe warehouse conditions during the coronavirus pandemic were fired by Amazon earlier this year. In response, nine US senators sent a letter to CEO Jeff Bezos in May, asking for details on its termination policies. The letter was signed by now-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, as well as Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Edward Markey, Richard Blumenthal, Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Kirsten Gillibrand and Tammy Baldwin.
“Given the clear public history of these four workers’ advocacy on behalf of health and safety conditions for workers in Amazon warehouses preceding their terminations, as well as Amazon’s vague public statements regarding violations of ‘internal policies, we are seeking additional information to understand exactly what those internal policies are,” the letter said.
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Amazon responded to the termination of appointment and argues that they were distinct and different cases of terminations.
“These individuals were not terminated for talking publicly about working conditions or safety, but rather, for violating — often repeatedly — policies, such as intimidation, physical distancing and more, we support every employee’s right to criticize or protest their employer’s working conditions,” says an Amazon spokesperson in May.
Though, Amazon vice president, Tim Bray, resigned from the company in protest at around that time.
Neither Amazon nor the National Labour Relations Board immediately responded to requests for comment. Bowden couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.