Amazon workers protest return-to-office mandate
(31 May 2023) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4437518 ASSOCIATED PRESS Seattle – 31 May 2023 1. Tilt down from office towers to rally HEADLINE: Amazon workers protest return-to-office 2. Various of people at rally ANNOTATION: Hundreds of Amazon workers protested the company's return-to-office mandate, environmental impact and recent layoffs. 3. Church Hindley making a sign 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Church Hindley, Amazon worker: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++ “I'm out here because I refuse to just sit idly by while mandates are dictated from above down that don't make sense and hurt the planet, hurt families and individual lives. And just to get us into a seat at the office for their tax incentives. I'm not here for that.” 5. Hindley making a sign 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Church Hindley, Amazon worker: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++ “So far, the options that seem to be given are do what you're told or quit. And that's why we're here, because I'm not going to quit and I'm not going to do this.” 7. Wide of rally ANNOTATION: In a statement, Amazon said it supported the rights of its workers to express their opinions. 8. Onlooker taking photo 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Pamela Hayter, Amazon worker: “As tech workers, we told many times during the pandemic that we were doing our best work, that our protectiveness was high as it's ever been. We made so much money. And I'm not naïve that the shift to remote work will take some adjustments within Amazon, but the benefits far outweigh those adjustments.” 10. Various of rally ANNOTATION: Before the return-to-office mandate, team leaders were allowed to determine how and where their staffers worked. 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Church Hindley, Amazon worker: “I got to spend time with my family. I was able to help raise my kids and actually be a part of their life. They talk like trust me and talk to me instead of just being somebody in and out of the, you know, out of the house.” 12. Various of rally ++PARTIALLY COVERED++ 13. SOUNDBITE (English) Church Hindley, Amazon worker: “I have the privilege that I do, you know, I can find another job if I have to. I would prefer to just make this place better. So if I get fired because I want to make it better, then so be it.” 14. People by Spheres STORYLINE: Hundreds of corporate Amazon workers upset about the company’s environmental impact, recent layoffs and a return-to-office mandate protested at its Seattle headquarters. The lunchtime protest on Wednesday comes a week after the company’s annual shareholder meeting and a month after a policy took effect requiring workers to return to the office three days per week. Previously, team leaders were allowed to determine how their charges worked. The company said in a statement that it respects its employees’ “rights to express their opinions.” Amazon, which relies on fossil fuels to power the planes, trucks and vans that ship packages all over the world, has an enormous carbon footprint. Amazon workers have been vocal in criticizing some of the company’s practices. In an annual statement to investors, Amazon said it aims to deploy 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030 and reach net-zero carbon by 2040. But walkout organizers contend the company must do more and commit to zero emissions by 2030. Amazon has cut 27,000 jobs since November. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
