Connor Spence, an Amazon union organizer, took aim at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and other Democratic lawmakers for failing to show support sooner, saying “we don’t need it now.”
Progressive outlet Status Coup News asked Spence why the organizers were fending for themselves while progressive lawmakers failed to show support even on Twitter.
Spence responded, “I think it’s just that our campaign and our model was such a long shot, they saw it as risky to even associate with us. Because at the end of the day, they are politicians as much as they, you know, say that they’re on the side of the workers, they have to prioritize getting reelected and all that stuff.”
Mentioning Ocasio-Cortez, Spence explained the issue was not that she “flaked out on us” but that she “went radio silent for six months after that and didn’t show a word for us until it was clear that we were gonna win.”
Spence stressed they do not want to “be reliant on political outsiders.”
He continued, “At the end of the day, we won without them, and we can continue to achieve big victories without them. You know, it would have been helpful to have that support early on.”
The union organizer argued it is not “really fair for them to stand at the finish line now and say that they support us because we needed the support in the beginning. We don’t need it now.”
Watch his comments below:
Additionally, podcaster Krystal Ball called out Ocasio-Cortez after she appeared to celebrate the win on Twitter.
“Here’s the guy who organized the union drive talking about how you left them high and dry. These are your constituents and you couldn’t be bothered to show up until they’re on the cusp of victory,” Ball tweeted.
Here’s the guy who organized the union drive talking about how you left them high and dry. These are your constituents and you couldn’t be bothered to show up until they’re on the cusp of victory. https://t.co/5wIu3VbbGi
— Krystal Ball (@krystalball) March 31, 2022
Ocasio-Cortez fired back, saying, “The warehouse isn’t in my district and maybe you should look at a map before claiming so. One scheduling conflict aside, we have requested oversight investigations into Amazon, met with Amazon workers in the Woodside warehouses, and more. Hope you do more due diligence next time.”
The warehouse isn’t in my district and maybe you should look at a map before claiming so. One scheduling conflict aside, we have requested oversight investigations into Amazon, met with Amazon workers in the Woodside warehouses, and more. Hope you do more due diligence next time.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 31, 2022
Fox News noted the vote in favor of unionizing is the first of its kind in Amazon’s history.