Sens. Warren and Sanders praise Amazon Prime Day strikers

Strikers are protesting working conditions and wage practices, though Amazon imposed a company-wide minimum wage of $15 per hour at the end of 2018.

Primary motivations for the strike seemed to be reports of increased work stress in the wake of Amazon’s aggressive delivery scheme, coupled with complaints that hard work was not duly rewarded.

Amazon said in a statement, “These groups are conjuring misinformation to work in their favor, when in fact we already offer the things they purport to be their cause — industry leading pay of $15 per hour, benefits, and a safe workplace for our employees.”

The strikers did receive support from two Democratic presidential candidates, however. Warren tweeted, “I fully support Amazon worker’s Prime Day strike. Their fight for safe and reliable jobs is another reminder that we must come together to hold big corporations accountable.”

Sanders said in a tweet, “A higher wage is only one component of the fight for worker’s rights. Amazon workers deserve safe working conditions, fair scheduling, and reasonable production demands. I stand with Amazon MSP1 workers in Minnesota and their #PrimeDayAmazon strike!”

Amazon further said, “If these groups — unions and the politicians they rally to their cause — really want to help the American worker, we encourage them to focus their energy on passing legislation for an increase in the federal minimum wage, because $7.25 is too low.”