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Amazon Warehouse Workers Are Warned

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos isn’t happy about comedian John Oliver criticizing working conditions at Amazon warehouses. In fact, in a cryptic tweet, Amazon’s official Twitter threatened to replace workers with robots if they keep complaining.

“Two sides to every story: an Amazon sortation center associate provided their perspective about the recent coverage of our working conditions,” Amazon’s account tweeted. It linked to an article about one worker’s experience in an Amazon warehouse, which refuted claims that workers are subjected to unfair labor practices.

“Just about every job in my sortation center could probably be done by a robot,” the article reads. “In fact, it amazes me that Amazon hasn’t simply automated the entire facility. After all, robots don’t call in sick, don’t steal from their employers, don’t sue for workman’s compensation, and they never complain about long hours or the heat or the cold. But nor do robots buy consumer goods. If I had to guess, I’d say that Amazon continues to employ lots of human beings because, by putting money into the pockets of working-class people, the company creates more customers. Robots may not buy basketball shoes or hibachi grills, but people sure do.”

Many people took the tweet, and the link to the article, as a threat from Bezos to automate Amazon warehouses if employees keep speaking out.