Democrats ask Amazon for answers

Democrats are pressing Amazon for answers about company safety protocols after six people died at an Illinois warehouse that was hit by a tornado.

Pushing for details: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) led a group of Democrats in a letter Monday asking the e-commerce giant for details about its policies and actions both at the Edwardsville, Ill., facility and nationwide.

“Amazon profits should never come at the cost of workers’ lives, health, and safety,” the Democrats wrote.

“These reports of Amazon’s workplace safety failures at the Edwardsville facility are disturbing when considered alone. But they fit all too well with an ongoing, company-wide pattern of worker mistreatment, including neglecting worker safety, shortchanging workers on proper pay and benefits, and employing union-busting tactics towards workers when they have tried to organize for better working conditions,” the Democrats added.

Amazon’s response: Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said the company is “reviewing the letter and will respond directly,” but right now is focusing on “taking care of our employees and partners, the family members of those killed by the tornado, and the communities affected by this tragedy.”

The pressure from Democrats comes a week after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said it would be investigating the fatal collapse.