Stand With Tamesha!
Tamesha is an Amazon warehouse worker, a whistleblower, and a fierce organizer and advocate for the rights of pregnant workers. At the end of June, Amazon illegally fired her after she shared her story—about Amazon refusing her basic accommodations during her pregnancy, leading to her son being born severely premature—at an investors meeting.
Now, Amazon is retaliating―and Tamesha and her baby could wind up back in a homeless shelter as a result.
Tamesha’s story was covered in national press[1] as an example of Amazon's widespread abuse of pregnant workers, and she has spoken at multiple Amazon investor meetings and at public rallies to demand Amazon follow the law and provide pregnant people with reasonable accommodations.
In retaliation for telling the truth and organizing for better conditions, Amazon fired her.
Amazon's refusal to comply with basic pregnancy accommodations caused Tamesha’s baby to be born severely premature. His twin brother tragically passed away in utero, while her surviving baby had to spend 140 days in the NICU. Her son is now recovering from a surgery related to his condition.
Amazon claims that in seeking to extend her leave of absence to take care of her son after his surgery, Tamesha violated the company's attendance policies—even though she was both in conversation to extend her leave of absence and had complied with company policy by requesting shifts.
Firing her now is particularly egregious: Tamesha's baby's surgery—and the leave required for care and recovery—was only necessary because Amazon refused to comply with her doctor's orders during her pregnancy.
This sudden loss of income has put Tamesha and her baby son at risk of returning to a homeless shelter.
The family is struggling to cover rent, basic needs, and ongoing medical care.
In solidarity,
FAFO
P.S. You can learn more about Tamesha and Warehouse Life’s Pregnancy Justice campaign here.
