Thirty-seven MEPs (mainly from the GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups, but also some members of the S&D group and one EPP MEP) sent on the initiative of Leïla Chaibi (GUE/NGL, French) an open letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Wednesday 7 October, following the publication of two job advertisements for posts as intelligent analysts, whose role will be to monitor “threats” to the company's activities, including trade unions, which appeared alongside terrorists.
The MEPs note the company's anti-union policy in the United States and Europe and say: “We wonder about your intentions with great concern: does Amazon’s monitoring intentionally target trade unionists, Amazon workers, as well as political representatives (including ourselves) who could possibly express criticism of its activities?”
The MEPs criticise Bezos, reminding him of the principles of democracy and free expression: “The exponential growth of Amazon's profits since the beginning of the global pandemic does not allow you to exonerate yourself from respecting fundamental legal principles”.
In response to the outcry caused by their publication, Amazon has since withdrawn the job advertisements, stating that the job description contained errors.
An initiative for 2021
The European Commission had planned to hold a summit on workers on online platforms in September. However, the event has been cancelled because of the pandemic. It is reported that the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) is consulting the various stakeholders (trade unions, platforms, etc.) with the intention of drafting an initiative in 2021.
The initiative will tackle the professional status of workers on online platforms, working conditions (including health and safety) and access to social protection. It is reported that the Commission would also like to look into transparency in the management of algorithms and, of course, the issue of unionisation and employment relations.
The MEPs’ letter can be found at: https://bit.ly/2GpZYAY (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)