New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks at a press conference announcing a lawsuit to dissolve the NRA on August 6, 2020 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images
Amazon on Friday sued New York Attorney General Letitia James for preventing her from regulating the security response to the Covid pandemic, which according to Amazon is an area already controlled by federal law.
The filing is an unusual move that shows Amazon is willing to take action against regulators as it faces legal challenges.
Amazon’s lawsuit aims to suggest what is being said is a threat by James to sue the company, “if it does not immediately agree to a list of claims, many of which have nothing to do with health and safety. and have no factual or legal basis. “
Amazon employees demanded more action from the company early in the pandemic to protect them from the virus. In March, a group of workers in Staten Island led by Chris Smalls protested against Amazon’s unwillingness to close the cleaning facility after a site worker tested positive. An Amazon spokesman at the time said it was unnecessary to close the premises for cleaning, but that it followed the guidelines of the health authorities and asked those who were in close contact with the worker concerned to stay home for two weeks.
Amazon fired Smalls last year after the strike, though the company claims it was fired for violating Covid security protocols. Amazon says Smalls broke the social distance guidelines and failed to isolate themselves after coming into close contact with another worker who tested positive for the virus.
James had earlier said Smalls’ termination was “shameful”. She later said in a letter to the company that her health measures on Covid-19 “are so inadequate that it could violate several provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act,” according to a copy obtained by Reuters.
Sources have since told CNBC that James’ investigating officers interviewed Amazon workers from facilities across the state, focusing on demands for retaliation from employees.
The company asked a federal judge in Brooklyn on Friday to issue an order alleging that James did not have the legal authority to regulate both workplace safety issues and retaliation against Amazon employees who protested during the coronavirus pandemic. .
James quickly accused Amazon’s case of being “nothing more than a sad attempt to divert attention from the facts and to avoid responsibility for its failure to protect hard-working workers from a deadly virus.”
“Let me be clear: we will not be intimidated by anyone, especially corporate bullies who place profits above the health and safety of working people,” James said in a statement.
“We remain unaffected in our efforts to protect workers from exploitation and will continue to review all our legal options.”
In its lawsuit, Amazon claimed that the company exceeded the recommended procedures for limiting the risk of Covid-19 distribution in its order fulfillment centers in New York.
The company also says James’ claim for the restoration of Smalls, the former warehouse worker who led the strike, is unreasonable.
The federal authorities are also reportedly investigating its competing practices.
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