A civil rights complaint was lodged against Amazon by a group of employees on Thursday, representing three engineers who assert they are being unfairly investigated for their testimony to the Seattle City Council regarding data center regulations. The engineers involved, Patrick Schloesser, Darius Irani, and Liesl Wigand, spoke on June 3, emphasizing their legal protection against retaliation for their public statements.
The complaint cites a Seattle ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on political beliefs. In response, Amazon confirmed the investigations but stated they are focused on internal procedures concerning public representation. A spokesperson clarified that while employees can discuss their work conditions, they must follow company protocols when acting as representatives.
Following the testimony, the engineers were reportedly called for meetings where they were informed of a disciplinary investigation, which could potentially lead to termination. Amazon has contested claims of threatening their jobs, asserting that such statements were mischaracterized. The company is examining whether the engineers' actions constituted a breach of policy.