Amazon: Need for Speed, Thirst for Profit

Amazon, the world’s most valuable e-commerce company, has had a tremendous year. Despite inflation and a slowing economy, its net sales increased 13 percent to $143.1 billion USD in the third quarter of 2023.

The company isn’t letting up. Having built 45 “same-day delivery” centres (SDDC’s) across the United States, Amazon has cut its average delivery speed by half since 2018. With a plan to build twice as many SDDC’s in the coming years, Amazon’s market capitalization increased more than 60 percent in the last year to $1.48 trillion USD.

While shareholders are in ecstasy, Amazon’s “need for speed” has brought down labour standards across the logistics industry.

The strenuous pace and robotic quality of the work, combined with an injury rate nearly double the industry standard, mean that Amazon has turnover amongst its hourly warehousing and delivery employees of 150 percent per year.

With no unions to keep them in check, Amazon continues to chew up and spit out workers.

What Does this Mean for Postal Workers?

We have just begun bargaining with Canada Post for Urban and RSMC members. As Canada Post aims to streamline its processes to remain competitive with Amazon’s standards, the corporation will seek concessions from CUPW. In Canada Post’s dream world, its workers would be just like Amazon’s; precarious employees with no union protections, performing mind numbing work until they are injured and disposed of.

As CUPW negotiates with CPC, we are also negotiating with Amazon. Any concessions to shorter delivery times, decreased worker protections or increased employee surveillance are tacit agreements to operate under the Amazon business model.

To maintain the quality, security, and democracy of our jobs, we must resist Amazon’s greed and disregard for workers suffering.

Make Amazon Pay

Amazon has built its wealth and power at the expense of not only workers, but the environment, taxpayers, and communities. Amazon Web Services (AWS), is currently contracted by the Israeli government to develop Project Nimbus, cloud software that will give the Israeli military capabilities in facial detection and object tracking. These surveillance technologies will likely be used to track Palestinians and support Israel’s ongoing occupation.

CUPW is calling on our governments to hold Amazon accountable. Send a letter to your federal and provincial representatives calling on Amazon to treat workers decently, to pay its taxes, to pay for its impact on the environment, and to withdraw its support for Israeli apartheid.

https://www.cupw.ca/en/make-amazon-pay

In Solidarity,