Amazon Employee Groups Expect Nearly 2,000 Workers to Participate in Walkout

In a significant display of dissent, employee groups at Amazon are preparing for a walkout, with an estimated participation of nearly 2,000 workers. The protest is aimed at voicing concerns over the company’s return-to-office mandate and its climate-related impact. The walkout is scheduled to take place at noon PT on Wednesday, right in front of Amazon’s iconic Spheres building at its Seattle headquarters. Although the majority of participants are expected to be from Seattle, employees from other locations and those in remote roles are also encouraged to join the protest.

Last week, the employee groups had announced that the walkout would only proceed if at least 1,000 employees pledged their support. The organizing groups, namely Amazon Employees for Climate Justice and Amazon Remote Advocacy, expressed their dissatisfaction with the direction Amazon is taking and the loss of trust it has incurred. They emphasized the importance of preserving Amazon’s Day 1 culture, characterized by long-term thinking and active employee involvement, which has contributed to the company’s success.

The reference to “Day 1” stems from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who stepped down as CEO in 2021 but remains chairman. Bezos often stressed the significance of embracing powerful trends quickly, cautioning that resisting them would hinder progress. The protesting employee groups believe that Amazon’s current policies are pushing the company away from its Day 1 culture, which they seek to reignite.

Amazon had implemented its return-to-office policy on May 1, requiring employees to work in offices for at least three days per week. While local leaders in Seattle welcomed the move as a means to revitalize the downtown area, numerous corporate and tech employees expressed their discontent. An internal Slack channel was created to voice their opposition to the policy. This decision by CEO Andy Jassy and company leadership contradicted Amazon’s previous stance, which had granted individual team leaders the authority to decide back-to-office arrangements. The change in approach was announced earlier this year in February.

The walkout not only protests the return-to-office mandate but also sheds light on frustrations concerning Amazon’s climate-related initiatives. The employee groups accuse the company of undercounting its carbon footprint, disproportionately impacting communities of color, increasing carbon emissions since 2019, and obstructing clean energy legislation. They argue that Amazon’s leadership treats climate impact as an inconvenience rather than a strategic focus.

This is not the first time Amazon Employees for Climate Justice has raised concerns about the company’s environmental practices. In 2020, the group organized a “virtual walkout” to draw attention to firings and poor warehouse conditions. Their current protest seeks to address both workplace autonomy and environmental sustainability.

In response to the walkout, an Amazon spokesperson emphasized the company’s respect for employees’ rights to express their opinions. However, the employee dissatisfaction follows a series of substantial layoffs at Amazon, which affected 27,000 employees over the past few months. In January, the company announced the largest layoff in its history, affecting 18,000 employees, followed by an additional 9,000 layoffs in March. Despite these measures, Amazon still employs over 65,000 corporate workers in the Seattle region.

As the walkout approaches, the organizing groups aim to convey a clear message to Amazon’s leadership. They strive to highlight the importance of maintaining the Day 1 culture, which values employee voices and long-term thinking. Simultaneously, they want to raise awareness about the negative impact of the return-to-office policy and call for greater emphasis on environmental sustainability.

The outcome of the walkout remains to be seen, but it serves as a powerful reminder that employee activism and collective action can shape the policies and practices of even the most prominent companies. Amazon, with its global influence and vast workforce, finds itself at the center of this battle between corporate mandates and employee voices.