Leftist powerhouse duo Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led a rally outside the Amazon JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island on Sunday to show their support for their workers’ newly formed union.
The politicians’ appearance came as workers at Amazon’s LGA5 warehouse in Edison, NJ, prepared to vote Monday on whether to unionize.
Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx) and Sanders (D-Vt.) fired at Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, urging the company to officially recognize the Staten Island union.
“We have to acknowledge … that here in New York City we have the first unionized Amazon in America,” AOC said.
She and Sanders also lamented Amazon’s controversial labor practices.
“I say to Jeff Bezos, who owns a $500 million yacht — I say, ‘Jeff, when you’re out on your yacht, I want you to think about the workers,'” Sanders said. “They want affordable housing. They want to be able to put a few dollars aside to send their kids to college.
“They don’t want to be exploited and continue this massive turnover that’s happening here because of the horrible working conditions.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended a rally outside the Amazon JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island on Sunday.REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders recognized the workers who were the first to unionize at an Amazon warehouse.REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Sanders said working conditions at Amazon were “horrific”. KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images