Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Apparently, today is 'cyber Monday'—a holiday invented by American retailers, like Amazon, to allow profits to keep rolling after the 'black Friday' sales end. Sadly, this is not the only Americanism that Amazon is trying to adopt here in Australia. They've also tried to ship their dodgy and dangerous approach to industrial relations to our shores.

In the US, Amazon has fought tooth and nail against their workers' right to unionise, in an attempt to keep pay and conditions low. Now, here in Australia, Amazon employees face a very similar attitude. For example, Amazon Flex drivers aren't even given a minimum wage, have no rights and are pressured into driving dangerously-overloaded cars. Amazon warehouse workers also face immense stress, and have, particularly over the past week. There has been enormous pressure to fulfil orders very quickly, despite workers often being employed insecurely by third-party labour-hire companies.

Despite efforts by Amazon to impede and monitor any union activity, the SDA and the Transport Workers Union—my union—have fought to improve pay and conditions by forming the Online Retail & Delivery Workers Alliance. The SDA and the TWU are working to enforce and lift safety standards, improve wages and ensure that workers are protected in every step of the supply chain. I would like to thank both the SDA and the TWU for standing up for these workers and rejecting the Americanisation of Australian industrial relations.