As Jeff Bezos becomes the richest person in the world, it’s clear Amazon’s retail monopoly benefits him above all others.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents over one million retail workers, released the following statement in response to Amazon’s claims of hiring 50,000 new warehouse workers:
“While Amazon claims they’re creating 50,000 new jobs, they conveniently ignore how their business model, in addition to offering brutal working conditions inside their warehouses, will destroy tens of thousands – if not millions – of retail jobs through automation.
“Amazon is a retail monopoly that threatens every corner of our nation’s economy. Left unchecked, it will eradicate jobs, small businesses, and countless American retailers across the nation.
“Sadly, while Jeff Bezos may revel in becoming the richest person in the world, his business and company will be responsible for pushing countless people into poverty. The question now is this: Will America’s leaders have the courage to speak out against the Amazon monopoly, or will they remain silent?”
BACKGROUND
- Public filings show that Amazon played a large role in eliminating more than 50,000 jobs in recent years from Staples, Office Depot, and Best Buy.
- MarketWatch estimated that Amazon’s dominant growth could cause as many as 1.5 million retail jobs to be lost within five years.
- An investigation from ProPublica showed that Amazon routinely favored their own, more expensive listings, or Amazon-made products, over those from smaller sellers.
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The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries.
Our members help put food on our nation’s tables and serve customers in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at www.ufcw.org.