An organization of workers at Amazon known as “Amazon Employees for Climate Justice” is calling for action against the retail behemoth to be held on Friday, April 24th. We urge people to respect these efforts, and not do any business with the retailer during this event.

“We’re asking tech workers to virtually walk out on Friday (April 24)” said Maren Costa, an organizer for the group who was recently fired from Amazon after voicing concerns about the companies treatment of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.*

Amazon Employees for Climate Justice announced the “Virtual Walkout” during a virtual panel on Thursday. The panel, attended by over 400 employee representatives from numerous Amazon departments, was intended to foster solidarity between Amazon warehouse employees, and the companies tech sector. This sort of company-wide unity represents a major victory for labor activists within the organization… and it showed.

Amazon attempted to sabotage the group’s efforts by deleting invitations sent using internal emails, which organizers say were accepted by more than 1,500 employees.

“We want to tell Amazon that we are sick of all this – sick of the firings, sick of the silencing, sick of pollution, sick of racism and sick of the climate crisis. We ask you to consider the stories that you’ve just heard, the deleted invitation to this event – is that okay with you, or would you rather be able to have this conversation, or the next conversation like it, openly?” – Maren Costa, Representative for Amazon Employees For Climate Justice

During the action, Amazon employees are encouraged to participate in the form of sick-outs and walk-offs, as well as utilizing productivity slowdowns both in-warehouse, and critically, among Amazon’s online division.

This comes amid a growing wave of labor activism nationwide, with similar actions expected to begin in other companies and industries nationwide on May 1st.

*Amazon said it fired Costa for “repeatedly violating internal policies.”