Amazon employees stage a walkout in protest of the return-to-office policy and to raise awareness about climate change.

On September 20th, 2019, Amazon employees staged a walkout in protest of the company’s return-to-office policy and to raise awareness about climate change. The walkout was part of a global climate strike that saw millions of people take to the streets to demand action on climate change.

The Amazon employees who participated in the walkout were part of a group called Amazon Employees for Climate Justice. The group was formed in 2018 after Amazon announced plans to work with oil and gas companies to develop cloud computing services for the energy industry.

The group has been pushing Amazon to take more aggressive action on climate change, including reducing the company’s carbon footprint and ending contracts with oil and gas companies. The group has also been calling on Amazon to stop donating to politicians and organizations that deny the reality of climate change.

The return-to-office policy that the Amazon employees were protesting requires employees to work from the office at least three days a week. The policy was announced in March 2021 as the company began to transition back to in-person work after more than a year of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The policy has been controversial among Amazon employees, many of whom have grown accustomed to working from home and are concerned about the health risks of returning to the office. The policy has also been criticized for its potential impact on the environment, as more employees commuting to the office could lead to increased carbon emissions.

The Amazon employees who participated in the walkout were joined by climate activists and other supporters. The group marched to Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle, where they held a rally and delivered a letter to CEO Jeff Bezos.

The letter called on Amazon to take more aggressive action on climate change, including setting a goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and ending contracts with oil and gas companies. The letter also called on Amazon to stop donating to politicians and organizations that deny the reality of climate change.

The walkout and rally received widespread media coverage, drawing attention to the issue of climate change and the role that corporations like Amazon play in contributing to the problem. The protest also highlighted the growing power of employee activism, as workers at Amazon and other companies are increasingly using their voices to push for change on issues like climate change, social justice, and worker rights.

In response to the walkout and rally, Amazon released a statement saying that the company is committed to addressing climate change and reducing its carbon footprint. The company also said that it is working to develop more sustainable products and services, and that it has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2040.

However, the statement did not address the specific demands of the Amazon Employees for Climate Justice group, and many activists and employees remain skeptical of the company’s commitment to addressing climate change.

The walkout and rally at Amazon are just one example of the growing movement of employee activism that is taking place in companies around the world. As workers become more aware of the impact that their employers have on issues like climate change, they are using their voices and their power to demand change and hold companies accountable.

Whether or not Amazon and other companies will listen to their employees and take meaningful action on climate change remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the voices of employees and activists will continue to be a powerful force for change in the years to come.