Amazon activists allege interrogation after data center vote
Three Amazon employees who advocated for a data center moratorium in Seattle filed a civil rights complaint, alleging the company interrogated them for publicly speaking against its business interests. Amazon states it was enforcing a standard policy regarding public representation. The Seattle City Council ultimately voted to impose a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data centers.
Three Amazon employees, members of the activist group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (AECJ), have filed a civil rights complaint with the Seattle Office for Civil Rights, accusing Amazon of retaliation. This action follows the employees' testimony before the Seattle City Council on June 3, where they advocated for a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data centers and artificial intelligence facilities.
Patrick Schloesser, Darius Irani, and Liesl Wigand allege that Amazon's human resources department subjected them to private interrogations, implying they violated company policy by speaking publicly as company representatives without clearance. Amazon, however, maintains that it was simply enforcing a standard policy applicable to all employees, ensuring that public statements are not misinterpreted as official company positions. Amazon spokesperson Margaret Callahan clarified that while employees are free to discuss their working environment, there are procedures for speaking as a company representative, and the company has no plans to fire the three.
The activists' efforts proved successful, as the Seattle City Council voted unanimously on June 9 to impose the data center moratorium, making Seattle the largest U.S. city to pause such developments. The AECJ defends its members' right to free speech and participation in democracy, asserting that the employees are legally protected against employer retaliation under Seattle's fair employment practices ordinance.