Three Democrats from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform accused Amazon in a letter of delaying their investigation into Amazon's labor procedures during severe weather events, though Amazon is disputing the allegation of obstruction.
“We were surprised to receive this letter because we began producing materials to the Committee just two weeks after receiving its initial request and have produced more than 1,500 pages of responsive information," said Kelly Nantel, Amazon spokesperson.
The investigation was launched in March after six people died on Dec. 10, 2021, when a tornado struck an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville.
In a letter addressed to CEO Andy Jassy, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) state that the Committee’s investigation is focused on whether Amazon executives and managers engaged in coercive conduct that contributed to the high death toll in Edwardsville.
“The Committee’s letter, sent more than two months ago, sought documents related to the Edwardsville tragedy, including communications among Amazon’s employees and managers at the Edwardsville facility; Amazon’s policies related to emergency preparedness; and the company’s internal reviews or investigations related to the tragedy,” the Congresswomen wrote in the June 1 letter. “The Committee also sought information on injuries and deaths suffered by Amazon employees and contractors during other severe weather events. These documents were due on April 14, 2022.”
The Congresswomen further allege that in seven weeks, the Seattle-based e-commerce company had not produced any of the key documents.
However, according to Nantel, their timeline is incorrect.
"As we have done from the start, we will continue to work with Committee staff on further document production — which includes the most recent materials we shared on June 1," Nantel told the St. Louis Record.
The politicians ended their letter to Amazon with a warning and a new deadline of June 8.
“If Amazon fails to do so, the Committee will have no choice but to consider alternative measures to obtain full compliance,” the letter states.