Amazon illegally fired activist workers: US Labor board

Amazon.com Inc illegally fired two employees who advocated for better working conditions during the pandemic_ the US National Labor Relations Board has found.

The online retailer last year terminated the employment of Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa_ who accused the company of enforcing policies in a discriminatory fashion and having vague rules that 'chill and restrain' staff from exercising rights_ according to their charge filed in October_ seen by Reuters.

The board said on Monday that its regional director in Seattle will issue a complaint if the parties do not settle the case.

The decision comes at a delicate moment for Amazon as it awaits the outcome of its Bessemer_ Alabama_ workers vote on whether to make their warehouse the company s first unionized facility in the country.

Cunningham and Costa_ who gained prominence for pushing the company to do more on climate change_ about a year ago questioned Amazon s pandemic safety protocols and worked to raise money for warehouse staff at risk of contracting Covid-19.

In a statement_ Amazon said it supports workers rights to criticize work conditions_ but that doing so does not absolve staff of breaking lawful rules.  We terminated these employees not for talking publicly about working conditions_ safety_ or sustainability_ but rather_ for repeatedly violating internal policies_ it said.

Amazon on Monday did not specify what those polices were.

Cunningham and Costa did not immediately comment. Marc Perrone_ international president of the UFCW union whose local unit helped file the charge_ said in a statement:  Today is a reminder that Amazon will break the law to silence its own workers who speak out.