Sunday, January 19, 2025, 6:54AM |  30°
MENU
SECTIONS
OTHER
CLASSIFIEDS
CONTACT US / FAQ
Advertisement
Mark Bezos, left, listens Tuesday as his brother Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and space tourism company Blue Origin, describes the experience after their launch from the spaceport near Van Horn, Texas.
1
MORE

Bezos' comments on Amazon workers after spaceflight draw rebuke

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Bezos' comments on Amazon workers after spaceflight draw rebuke

NEW YORK — The world’s richest man wanted to say thanks to the people who made his brief trip into space Tuesday possible.

But for some, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ expression of gratitude went over like a lead rocket.

“I want to thank every Amazon employee, and every Amazon customer because you guys paid for all this,” the 57-year-old Mr. Bezos said during a news conference Tuesday after becoming the second billionaire in just over a week to ride in his own spacecraft.

Advertisement

Mr. Bezos built Amazon into a shopping and entertainment behemoth but has faced increasing activism within his own workforce and stepped up pressure from critics to improve working conditions.

Labor groups and Amazon workers have claimed that the company offers its hourly employees not enough break times, puts too much reliance on rigid productivity metrics and has unsafe working conditions. An effort to unionize workers at an Amazon warehouse in Alabama failed earlier this year.

Robert Reich, former secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton and a professor of public policy at University of California, Berkeley, wrote on Twitter that Mr. Bezos has crushed unionizing attempts for decades.

“Amazon workers don’t need Bezos to thank them. They need him to stop union busting — and pay them what they deserve,” Mr. Reich wrote.

Advertisement

Mr. Bezos stepped down as Amazon CEO in July, allowing him more time for side projects including his space exploration company Blue Origin. He has said he finances the rocket company by selling $1 billion in Amazon stock each year.

After the spaceflight, Mr. Bezos awarded $100 million donations through a new philanthropic initiative to both D.C. chef Jose Andres and CNN contributor Van Jones to put towards any charity or nonprofit of their choice. Mr. Jones has founded a number of nonprofit organizations and Andres’ nonprofit group World Central Kitchen provides meals to people following natural disasters.

Nevertheless, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who is on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, proposed on Tuesday legislation that would tax space travel for non-scientific research purposes.

“Space exploration isn’t a tax-free holiday for the wealthy,” said Mr. Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat. “Just as normal Americans pay taxes when they buy airline tickets, billionaires who fly into space to produce nothing of scientific value should do the same, and then some.”

Others tied his spaceflight to reports that Mr. Bezos hasn’t paid his fair share of taxes. According to the nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica, Mr. Bezos paid no income tax in 2007 and 2011.

“Jeff Bezos forgot to thank all the hardworking Americans who actually paid taxes to keep this country running while he and Amazon paid nothing,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., tweeted.

Allen Adamson, co-founder of marketing consultancy Metaforce, says it’s challenging for Mr. Bezos to say where the money from the space trip is coming from without being offensive. He says he should have left out those comments and focused on thanking the Blue Origin team.

“For people who have an issue with inequality and his compensation versus the average employee compensation, this was rocket fuel,” Mr. Adamson said.

First Published: July 21, 2021, 2:28 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (9)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Russell Wilson #3 and Justin Fields #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warm up prior to the game against the New York Giants at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1
sports
Gerry Dulac: The Steelers are looking for direction and purpose. How will the roster look in 2025?
Fans of all ages attend PiratesFest to kick off the 2025 season on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Downtown.
2
sports
‘Where is Bob?’: Fans express frustration with ownership, lack of success during PiratesFest
Ice forms on the Allegheny River in Downtown on Tuesday, Jan.14, 2025. Pittsburgh is forecast to see extreme cold weather next week, with wind chills of 20 degrees below zero possible.
3
news
Pittsburgh is under an extreme cold watch. Here's what that means and how to prepare.
Josh Willy, Penn Hills High teacher of 23 years, died in a single-vehicle crash on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
4
news
Penn Hills High mourns loss of longtime teacher in vehicle crash
Penguins goaltender Joel Blomqvist stops the puck during the first period of a game against the Capitals on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
5
sports
Joel Blomqvist plays well in his NHL return, other takeaways from the Penguins’ loss to the Capitals
Mark Bezos, left, listens Tuesday as his brother Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and space tourism company Blue Origin, describes the experience after their launch from the spaceport near Van Horn, Texas.  (Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press)
Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story