How this movement was formed

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/30/disabled-amazon-workers-discrimination

Amazon told a disabled employee to “just move closer” instead of WFH

An Amazon employee who suffered multiple strokes and can no longer drive asked for remote work as a disability accommodation. Instead of granting it, Amazon suggested they move closer to the office or take public transit. We are calling on leadership to change how disability accommodations are handled. If you’ve had a similar experience or believe this process needs to change, it’s time to speak up!

This is just one of many similar stories from Amazonians who have had accommodations denied when they have real, verified disabilities.

Article written about what happened
(https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-12/amazon-s-return-to-office-mandate-sparks-disability-complaints

During our time at Amazon collectively as those with disabilities, we experienced a variety of disability discrimination and retaliation at every stage-from interviewing, on-boarding, post hire, training, leave and reassignment. These discriminatory processes and methods were built directly into policies and the way management would handle issues and treat disabled employees. Management would dismiss our complaints , list Amazonian complaints as disruptive and unproductive. Policies have been used discriminatorily by Amazon in several ways that harm those with disabilities. This discriminatory treatment was perpetuated by those in HR, employee relations, Accommodations, Disability and leave services (DLS) Senior Management and other departments. In this environment, those of us with disabilities began discussing with one another about common systemic issues we all experienced and turned our collaboration into action by then creating the first ever Corporate disability union collective bargaining group at Amazon, led by those with disabilities for those with disabilities, to discuss systemic issues specifically facing those with disabilities, researching, planning collective events, providing resources, collaborating, conducting surveys, and creating a petition that would be sent to management highlighting these problems and asking for an official response and real change. Our petition quickly gained steam and many were responding and advocating for our rights. However, when we posted the petition, sent it to Management and requested an official response and raised concerns about discrimination, Amazon started removing several posts from members in our group. In total they ended up removing at least 18 posts and many individuals in our group received multiple warnings to remove posts without explanation, Amazon then began forcefully removing posts and still provided no explanation and organizers were threatened with removal from Slack and threatened with punishment up to termination of their employment—and then some had slack access removed in retaliation, a organizer was fired in retaliation. Other members who spoke up faced increased workloads out of their normal work duties, reassignments, and leaves intended to push them out of the company. This effort was unique in that we created the first ever disability union collective organizing group at Amazon in its entire history, led by those with disabilities for those with disabilities. We many signatures from those with disabilities while constantly having the posts removed within an hour of being posted each time. While we all faced systemic discrimination, what came as an equal shock was the effort and speed at which amazon stopped concerted NLRA protected activity and violated protected opposition and ADA laws. It was equally shocking that Amazon didn't even try to hide this. It was if they had no qualms about violating worker rights. How can we not speak up when such horrible treatment is happening? Its ongoing to this very day.

It means in essence, that those with temporary disabilities, veterans, short term disabilities, or severe long term or permanent disabilities may not be able to apply to any position (Due to exclusionary policies) and may fear even applying due to a risk that any position will have new requirements added later contrary to their accommodation requests. For up to 70 million disabled Americans, this effectively excludes them from working for Amazon or even applying for amazon. For Amazon, the Fortune 2 company, one of the largest in the world (Second largest employer worldwide, with over 500 Billion in revenue per year and over 1.4 million employees,) this is simply unacceptable. Last week we did a search on Amazon's own portal and it shows around 5,000 jobs available in the United States currently and at least 20K jobs available worldwide. In at least one example, an employee requested that the accommodations team provide 30 jobs that match their remote disability accommodation request needs, Amazon responded with “We searched and did not find any available” There was not even 1 position out of 5,000 open roles that can accommodate a severely disabled employee? This sort of behavior happens all the time. Fixing these issues are not optional, these affect the very livelihoods of those with disabilities, whether they can put food on the table or not. Those with disabilities cannot always just find another job, some r wrongfully fired or when experiencing these issues may then go bankrupt, face additional medical issues or go homeless. The requests in this document are not nice to haves. They are not just because we want this, they are necessary to properly be accommodated and to adhere to the ADA. It requires a change of policies, procedures in a transparent way and with input from actual employees with disabilities at Amazon.

Amazon has a clear legal obligation—and a moral imperative—to respect, protect, and uphold the rights of its employees with disabilities. The systemic discrimination, retaliation, and policy failures documented here not only violate the ADA but also erode trust, harm individual health, and compromise the company’s integrity. We demand immediate action to reform these policies, foster a truly inclusive workplace, and uphold the rights of all employees.

We look forward to your swift response and concrete steps toward meaningful change.

Sincerely,
Members of remote-advocacy, PWD at Amazon
Employees with Disabilities at Amazon

For the full petition please find it at the following link:
https://www.scribd.com/document/876166032/Amazon-Urgent-Need-for-Amazon-to-Comply-With-the-ADA-by-Reforming-Policies-That-Discriminate-Against-Employees-With-Disabilities