California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is suing Amazon, which he says is refusing to hand over data about working conditions and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"If Amazon can next day deliver an 85-inch TV, it should be able to deliver to the Department of Justice the straightforward information we requested from them nearly four months ago."
Becerra said his department has received multiple complaints and tips about workplace conditions at Amazon facilities in California. As part of that investigation, they filed subpoenas in August but didn’t get the information they wanted.
"We filed this petition because we urgently need to know about complaints made by Amazon associates to the company about working conditions, potential retaliation taken against employees (and) who raised these safety concerns," Becerra said.
He wants more specific data about outbreaks at facilities in California, and information about how Amazon even identifies and counts employees who have contracted COVID-19.
"We are hoping the court will compel Amazon will respond," he added. "What penalties Amazon might suffer, that will be up to a court to decide."
"We’re puzzled by the Attorney General’s sudden rush to court because we’ve been working cooperatively for months and their claims of noncompliance with their demands don’t line up with the facts," an Amazon spokesperson told KCBS Radio. "The bottom line is that we’re a leader in providing COVID-19 safety measures for our employees - we’ve invested billions of dollars in equipment and technology, including building on-site testing for employees and providing personal protective equipment. We encourage anyone to compare our speed and actions in this area to any other major employer."
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