Sanders launches Senate probe into Amazon’s safety practices and asks workers to share stories

NEW YORK — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has opened a Senate investigation into Amazon’s warehouse safety practices, the latest in a series of probes he’s initiated against big corporations in his role as chairman of a committee that oversees health and labor issues. Sanders, who has run for president twice and spent a political lifetime fighting corporations and monied interests over policies that he believes hurt the working class, sent a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy on Tuesday accusing the e-commerce giant of “egregious health and safety violations.” “The company’s quest for profits at all costs has led to unsafe physical environments, intense pressure to work at unsustainable rates, and inadequate medical attention for tens of thousands of Amazon workers every year,” Sanders, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, wrote in the letter. Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly said Tuesday morning the company had received Sanders’ letter and was in the early stages of reviewing it. “There will always be ways to improve, but we’re proud of the progress we’ve made, which includes a 23% reduction in recordable injuries across our U.S. operations since 2019.” Kelly also noted the company has invested more than $1 billion into safety initiatives in the last four years and will continue investing in this area.