Today hundreds of union members will protest at Amazon sites across the country as the TWU, SDA and MEAA make a claim on the company to pay its fair share for decent jobs, stop its attacks on workers and support Australian media.
The unions have condemned Amazon for its relentless and exploitative practices which have dragged down good Australian jobs and businesses, and eroded protections and safety standards for workers. They also warn that Amazon's huge tax avoidance and control of Australian data and content is an existential threat to many good Australian businesses.
The unions will be actively campaigning together for change and regulation of Amazon and its exploitative practices across workplaces, business supply chains and the community.
The unions' 10-point claim on Amazon is to:
· Pay fair wages
· Pay its fair share of tax
· Pay for the creative and media content used to train AI
· Stop excessive worker surveillance
· Use technology to create sustainable jobs that augment workers' capacity rather than intensifying work
· Create secure and sustainable jobs
· Respect workers' right to a voice at work through their unions
· Improve practices before being rewarded with lucrative government contracts
· Empower workers to speak up on safety rather than creating a culture of fear
· Pay fair superannuation
In the 2024 financial year, Amazon Commercial Services raked in $3.12 billion in Australia, but paid only $24.9 million tax - just 0.8% of its earnings.
The TWU has made an application to the Fair Work Commission, using laws passed by the Albanese Government, to put in place fair minimum standards across last mile parcel delivery.
The SDA is currently involved in several disputes with Amazon on work practices and allowing workers a voice at work.
Together the TWU & SDA along with other unions have been calling for ethical procurement clauses in Government procurement contracts to hold companies that benefit from public contracts, like Amazon, to a better standard.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:
"Hundreds of TWU members are standing up today for good Australian jobs and businesses which are under existential threat because of Amazon.
"Billionaires like former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos have gone to space from the money made from exploiting workers and communities - but Amazon doesn't even pay its fair share of tax.
"Australian workers deserve decent jobs, and Australian consumers deserve to choose local businesses without having Amazon crush them out of the market.
"From worker exploitation, to sinister uses of AI, to massive tax avoidance, workers are saying enough is enough: it's time for Amazon to pay its fair share for decent jobs and stop undercutting Australian businesses."
SDA National Secretary Gerard Dwyer said:
"Our disputes with Amazon whether unfair dismissal; or injured workers; or discrimination; or sexual harassment all have one thing in common – an attempt to silence workers.
"Amazon doesn't want anything to interrupt their algorithm so they try to deprive workers of a voice and representation. Basically Amazon want to treat their "humans" like they are robots too.
"But increasingly workers are speaking up. And as consumers so should the community and our Government.
"If you don't pay your fair share of tax, if you deny workers their rights, if you track every second of their working day - you should not be rewarded with public money. Ethical behaviour should be the cost of doing business with the Australian people."
MEAA Chief Executive Erin Madeley said:
"Amazon, like all of the major AI developers, has trained its AI off the back of the stolen work of Australia's creative and media workforce.
"MEAA members are standing up and calling out this theft and are demanding to be paid when their work is used by AI.
"Who will tell Australian stories if our artists, actors, journalists, and writers are displaced by AI?
"It's not enough to ensure producers are paid when works are used by AI companies like Amazon. Creative and media workers are being ripped off and they must be directly compensated for all use of their work.
"It's time for Amazon to pay up."
