Amazon Workers Plan Walkout in Response to Layoffs and Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees at Amazon's Seattle headquarters are preparing to go on strike on May 31, according to a recent report from the Washington Post.

Internal messages exchanged by Amazon employees via Slack and email, as cited by the outlet, highlight several factors that have led to the decision to go on strike including Amazon's return-to-office policy, climate commitments, and recent layoffs.

In late March, Amazon revealed its intention to lay off approximately 9,000 employees, following a previous reduction of over 18,000 positions. The layoffs affected various teams within the company, including Amazon Web Services, PXT Solutions, advertising, and Twitch.

Additionally, Amazon announced in February that employees would be required to return to the office for at least three days a week, a decision that was met with criticism. Following this, thousands of employees signed a petition expressing their concerns about the return-to-office policy. However, in March, it was reported that Beth Galetti, Amazon's human resources chief, rejected the petition.

Amazon's mandatory in-person attendance policy has raised concerns among workers, particularly in light of recent layoffs. This decision has increased apprehension among some employees who may be required to relocate, sell their homes, and make significant changes without having certainty about the stability of their positions upon arrival.

As reported by the Washington Post, in March, a significant number of employees formed a Slack group to engage in discussions regarding the return-to-office policy, expressing their concerns and urging the company to reconsider its stance. Despite their efforts, the employees were unable to persuade the company to change its position which is why they have now decided to stage a walkout.

According to the report, the organizers are aiming for the participation of at least 1,000 Amazon employees based in Seattle to join the walkout by pledging to halt work on May 31.

In response to a request for comment regarding the walkout, an Amazon spokesperson stated, "We respect our employees’ rights to express their opinions."

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