Daniel Mulino (Fraser, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For many, Black Friday is a chance to find a great bargain. It has become the starting gun for Christmas shopping. But it's also a time when we should reflect upon the many people who work hard to make our Christmas shopping possible. These often-forgotten people work long—often unsociable—hours while multinational corporations like Amazon reap billions in profits. Amazon's workforce is highly casualised as the company emphasises efficiency and cost savings over security for its workforce.

Amazon has been resistant to unionisation efforts, but the SDA and TWU have been fighting for workers rights ever since the business opened in Australia. These unions have received many reports of unreasonable target expectations and intense surveillance, prompting workers to skip bathroom breaks and to have to deal with heightened stress. These cases highlight the company's poor record on working conditions. Moreover, the SDA has given evidence to parliamentary inquiries that union officials and their members were surveilled when visiting sites. Amazon cite their advances in technology and innovation, yet they appear to have an antiquated approach to worker participation and worker voice. This government has backed in these campaigns with reforms to gig work, labour hire and casual arrangements. I support the SDA and TWU's actions in representing Amazon workers in warehouses and on the roads. This Black Friday weekend, keep in mind their campaign, Make Amazon Pay.