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A judge for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) delivered a ruling on Wednesday, finding Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in violation of labour laws for making what were deemed as "coercive statements" regarding unions during interviews conducted in 2022.
The ruling, stemming from a complaint filed in October 2022, points to three specific instances where Jassy expressed negative sentiments about unions.
In April 2022, during interviews with CNBC, The New York Times’ DealBook event, and Bloomberg’s Technology Summit, Jassy made comments suggesting that employees were "better off" without forming unions.
At the DealBook Summit, Jassy stated, "What we tell our employees in our fulfilment centres is that we think they’re better off without a union for a few reasons... they don’t have to go through a union. It’s not bureaucratic, it’s not slow."
NLRB Judge Brian Gee, in the ruling, asserted that Jassy's statements "threatened employees," insinuating that selecting a union would diminish their empowerment and hinder their ability to address issues efficiently.
As a remedy, Judge Gee recommended that Amazon refrain from making intimidating statements regarding unions and suggested posting notices at its facilities to remind workers of their rights.
Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis, in response to the ruling, expressed strong disagreement, stating, "We strongly disagree that any part of these comments were inappropriate and intend to appeal."
Paradis further highlighted concerns regarding the state of free speech rights and reiterated Amazon's commitment to fostering reasonable discussions on labour issues.
Amazon's relationship with the NLRB has been fraught with challenges in the past.
The company has faced multiple allegations of labour law violations and has contested the constitutionality of the agency itself.
This latest ruling adds to Amazon's ongoing legal battles surrounding labour practices and unionization efforts.
