San Francisco, United States:
US tech giant Amazon on Thursday sounded conciliatory notes as the US government considers stricter regulatory measures against America’s biggest digital platforms.
Founder Jeff Bezos told investors his e-commerce empire requires a superior “vision” for its workers, just days following an work to make the company’s very first labor union was defeated.
Some Amazon executives had fired off snappy comments at numerous politicians who supported the labor campaign, but their chief executive took a more circumspect method to the anti-union victory at its plant in Bessemer, Alabama.
“Does your chair take comfort in the outcome of the recent union vote in Bessemer?” Bezos asked rhetorically in an annual letter to shareholders.
“No, he doesn’t. I think we need to do a better job for our employees.”
In the letter, which was his final prior to stepping down as chief executive, Bezos laid out a new target for the firm to be “Earth’s best employer and Earth’s safest place to work.”
“Despite what we’ve accomplished, it’s clear to me that we need a better vision for our employees’ success,” Bezos mentioned.
The vote count in the contentious unionization drive at the warehouse in the southern state of Alabama final week showed a wide majority of workers rejecting the move.
“Bezos’s admission today demonstrates that what we have been saying about workplace conditions is correct,” mentioned Stuart Appelbaum, president of the union that vied to represent Amazon workers.
“But his admission won’t change anything, workers need a union — not just another Amazon public relations effort in damage control.”
Bezos rejected news reports that he mentioned unfairly portray Amazon workers as “desperate souls and treated as robots.”
“That’s not accurate,” Bezos mentioned.
“They’re sophisticated and thoughtful people who have options for where to work.”
Unions and political leaders have argued that Amazon personnel face continuous stress and monitoring, with small job protection, highlighting the want for collective bargaining.
Amazon has held firm that most of its workers never want or want a union and that the firm currently offers more than most other employers, with a minimum $15 hourly wage and other advantages.
Tax enhance backed
Bezos had currently shown deference to political momentum, announcing help for an raise in corporate taxes sought by US President Joe Biden to assistance finance a $2 trillion infrastructure program.
Bezos embraced the move just days following Biden singled out Amazon for avoiding federal revenue taxes although proposing to enhance the corporate tax price to 28 %.
“We support the Biden administration’s focus on making bold investments in American infrastructure,” Bezos mentioned.
“We recognize this investment will require concessions from all sides — both on the specifics of what’s included as well as how it gets paid for (we’re supportive of a rise in the corporate tax rate).”
Amazon has been the target of critics for years who claim it pays small or no corporate taxes. The firm has defended its policies, saying that its investments offset taxes as intended by the tax code.
Last month, Biden cited a 2019 study displaying 91 Fortune 500 organizations, “the biggest companies in the world, including Amazon… pay not a single, solitary penny of federal income tax,” adding, “that is just wrong.”
Bezos’s help for raising corporate taxes was echoed Thursday by the Chamber of Progress, a self-described “center-left” tech sector coalition whose roster of members consists of Amazon, Facebook, Google and Twitter.
“Many tech industry leaders view corporate taxes as a patriotic duty and a wise investment in a well-functioning society,” chamber chief Adam Kovacevich mentioned in message posted on the net.
“President Biden’s proposal to raise corporate tax rates to make major investments in infrastructure is a tradeoff that many in the tech industry can support.”
Meanwhile, political will to regulate world-wide-web giants whose energy has grown considerably throughout the pandemic has seemed to raise.
US House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline mentioned Thursday that a 16-month investigation tends to make it clear that Congress need to act.
“Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook each hold monopoly power over significant sectors of our economy,” Cicilline mentioned in a statement.
“This monopoly moment must end.”
(This story has not been edited by TheSpuzz employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)