Having put out of commission its Seattle customer service operation, you might at least expect that Amazon would treat its workers well. No such luck. Amazon is insisting that even hourly employees sign a legal agreement as a condition of receiving a standard severance package. The details are below -- check them out -- then click here to send a letter to Amazon. You can simply paste and amend the sample letter below. The deadline for employees to sign is February 9th, though emails to Amazon after this date should stress that employees who've _not_ signed should be given the same severance package.

The Workers' Letter, 7 Feb 2001
 

We are Amazon.com Customer Service employees in Seattle who have been
working to organize a union called Day 2 * affiliated with
WashTech/CWA.  As you may have heard, the majority of us were informed
on Tuesday, January 30, that the Seattle customer service center will be
closing in May and that our jobs will cease to exist.

We want to make it clear that Day 2 is not finished organizing.
Specifically, we are concerned by a *Separation Agreement and General
Release* contract that we have been required to sign in exchange for an
*Enhanced Severance Package* when we leave in May.  If we don*t sign
this agreement by February 9, 2001, we will receive a drastically
reduced package.

While Amazon has removed a non-disparagement clause from the contract,
there are several other points of concern in this separation agreement
regarding basic workers' rights and the right to organize.  Certain
sections are also in violation of the National Labor Relations Act
(NLRA).

We are asking as many people as possible to send an email to
orders@amazon.com including either the message below or a modified
version of it.

Lastly, we want to thank you for your amazing support during this union
drive.  Your words of encouragement have been invaluable in keeping our
spirits up and strengthening our resolve in the face of an anti-union
campaign on the part of Amazon management.

Thank you for your continued support,
Day2
WashTech/CWA
 
 

Sample Letter to Amazon
 
Dear Amazon,

It has come to my attention that you are asking your laid-off customer
service employees to sign a *Separation Agreement and General Release*
by February 9, 2001, as a condition of receiving their full severance
package.

While Amazon has removed a non-disparagement clause from the contract,
there are several other points of concern in this separation agreement
regarding basic workers* rights and the right to organize.

Particularly, sections of this contract restrict these employees* right
to file any existing and future claims against the company.  Requiring
these workers to sign this contract before their end date is illegal as
it violates subsections 8 (a)(1), (4) and (5) of the National Labor
Relations Act.   Amazon should not force laid off workers to choose
between their severance package and their rights.

Sincerely,
 

Send this letter!

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