Billionaire Jeff Bezos has come down to earth with a bump as critics turn on him for thanking Amazon workers for funding his space trip.
The Amazon founder and world's richest man lauded his staff and customers at the end of his 11minute jaunt into space aboard his company Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle.
US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted: “Yes, Amazon workers did pay for this – with lower wages, union busting, a frenzied and inhumane workplace, and delivery drivers not having health insurance during a pandemic. And Amazon customers are paying for it with Amazon abusing their market power to hurt small business.”
Meanwhile, labour union president Stuart Applebaum told Reuters the comments by Bezos were ‘obscene’.
He said: “It’s outrageous that Jeff Bezos says his rocket ship, amusement park ride was paid for by his workers. He could have done a lot more for humanity if instead he paid his workers fairly and spent the money that was necessary to protect their health and safety and their lives.”
