GMB wants action following resignation of Amazon VP Tim Bray

The GMB union has called on the Employment Select Committee to seek evidence from Tim Bray, the Amazon Vice President who recently resigned over the sacking of workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Various whistleblowers have been flagging up warehouse employee concerns around Covid-19 safety. In a blog post, Bray called the firings “chickenshit” and said they were “designed to create a climate of fear”.

Also of interest: Amazon takes action as workers criticise warehouse conditions

“Remaining an Amazon VP would have meant, in effect, signing off on actions I despised,” Bray, who had worked at the e-commerce giant for nearly six years, commented.

He added: "At the end of the day, the big problem isn’t the specifics of Covid-19 response, it’s that Amazon treats the humans in the warehouses as fungible units of pick-and-pack potential. Only that’s not just Amazon, it’s how 21st century capitalism is done."

“Firing whistleblowers isn’t just a side effect of macroeconomic forces, nor is it intrinsic to the function of free markets. It’s evidence of a vein of toxicity running through the company culture. I choose neither to serve nor drink that poison,” he stated.

Steve Garelick, GMB London Region Organiser, said the move backed up his union’s contention that Amazon workers are mistreated.

“Learning there are deep seated issues in Amazon that may well be underreported or not reported at all comes as no surprise. I have had direct contact with members who have been concerned about work based distancing and other safety during this crisis,” he said.

“Amazon do not recognise unions such as GMB not because of their normal claims that we are making trouble but more because they do not like outside direction. There is nothing honourable or cool about not really listening to workers, if not there would be no need for unions,” Garelick concluded.

Amazon did not respond to a request for comment, but previously cited violations of internal policies as reasons for dismissing the aforementioned employees.