Yessirree, Bob! That Amazon! What a fantastic, upstanding company, eh? Just doing great work out there for us all. So what if it's owner, Jeff Bezos is worth somewhere closely around 200 billion dollars! So what if, one day last year, his net worth went UP 13 billion dollars in one day! Forget all that! They're doing great work for us and for their employees both. Why, just look at the latest news!
For starters, this broke today:
Amazon to pay $61.7 million to settle charges it stole driver tips
Amazon Inc. agreed to pay more than $61.7 million to settle allegations it cheated Amazon Flex drivers out of nearly one-third of tips from customers for more than two years. The money paid to the Federal Trade Commission will be used to compensate drivers. The FTC said Amazon in 2015 advertised that a program called Flex would pay drivers $18 to $25 an hour to make deliveries and that they would receive 100% of any tips. But in late 2016 Amazon “secretly reduced its own contribution to drivers’ pay,” according to the FTC complaint.
And Unions? Why, of course with all the money the company and Mr. Bezos are making, they have no problem whatever that Amazon employees have great employment representation! Right??
Amazon battles warehouse union drive with hardball tactics
And with all that money Mr. Bezos makes, why, of course he gives his employees the best, fullest benefits!
Amazon warehouse workers say they struggle to get paid
'Amazon is not taking care of us': Warehouse workers say they're struggling to get paid despite sick leave policy
And working conditions for the employees?? Why, don't even ask! They're the best! The best!
Amazon workers reveal brutal working conditions
Amazon faces reports of unsafe working conditions
Amazon’s poor treatment of workers is catching up to it
‘I'm not a robot’: Amazon workers condemn unsafe, grueling conditions at warehouse
Amazon Working Conditions: Urinating in Trash Cans, Shamed to Work Injured, List of Employee Complaints
SO WHAT if they also pay ZERO TAXES!
Amazon paid no federal taxes on $11.2 billion in profits
I'm just SO VERY GLAD we've gotten FAR BEYOND the sweat shops and robber barons of 100 years ago, aren't you? Further proof, of course, that, as the Republicans and Right Wingers and Libertarians say, we no way need government regulations over business and industry! Why, everything's working just as it ought! To EVERYONE'S BENEFIT!
So, sure! That Amazon! What a great, great company! So who cares if Mr. Bezos is a multi- multi-billionaire 200 times over! Everything is great at that company!
Other Amazon news breaking this week:
Jeff Bezos steps down as Amazon CEO
I guess maybe 200 billion dollars is "enough"??Amazon unveils 'Helix' tower for new $2.5B headquarters
With all the money they're making and the taxes they're not paying, they had to do SOMETHING with all that money! Right??