NEW YORK — An inner Amazon memo has offered a stark take a look at the corporate’s fastidiously laid out plans to develop its affect in Southern California by a plethora of efforts that embrace burnishing its repute by charity work and pushing again in opposition to “labor agitation” from the Teamsters and different teams.

The eight-page doc – titled “neighborhood engagement plan” for 2024 – supplies a uncommon glimpse into how one in every of American’s largest corporations executes on its public relations goals and makes an attempt to curtail reputational hurt stemming from criticisms of its enterprise. It additionally illustrates how Amazon goals to methodically court docket native politicians and neighborhood teams with the intention to push its pursuits in a area the place it may very well be hampered by native moratoriums on warehouse growth, and it’s going through resistance from environmental and labor activists.

The memo was leaked to the nonprofit labor group Warehouse Employee Useful resource Heart and posted on-line this week. The Related Press independently verified its authenticity.

When reached for remark, Amazon didn’t dispute the authenticity of the doc. But it surely mentioned in a ready assertion it was happy with its philanthropic efforts.

“Partnerships with neighborhood leaders and stakeholders assist information how Amazon provides again,” mentioned Amazon spokesperson Jennifer Flagg. “Via worker volunteerism or our charitable donations, it’s at all times Amazon’s intention to assist assist the communities the place we work in a approach that’s most conscious of the wants of that neighborhood.”

Within the memo, Amazon says its high public-policy precedence in Southern California is addressing “labor agitation that makes use of false narratives and incorrect info to have an effect on public opinion and influence public coverage.”

Earlier this 12 months, the Teamsters unionized an Amazon contracted supply agency within the metropolis of Palmdale and subsequently supported protests round firm warehouses after Amazon refused to return to the bargaining desk. Final 12 months, dozens of Amazon staff at an organization air hub in San Bernardino, a metropolis about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, walked off the job to demand security enhancements and better pay.

Those self same points had been raised by staff at an organization warehouse in New York Metropolis the place staff voted to unionize with the Amazon Labor Union in 2022. The e-commerce large has been difficult the union’s win for greater than a 12 months in a case that’s nonetheless being adjudicated by the Nationwide Labor Relations Board.

The Amazon memo additionally says the Seattle-based firm faces “important reputational challenges” in Southern California, the place it’s “perceived to construct amenities in predominantly communities of shade and poverty, negatively impacting their well being.”

The Inland Empire, a area in Southern California that Amazon discusses within the doc, has seen a increase in warehouse growth over the previous few a long time. However there’s additionally been a groundswell of native opposition to new warehouses, with a number of municipalities enacting moratoriums on developments.

In January, dozens of environmental and neighborhood teams despatched a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom urging him to declare a one-to-two-year moratorium on new warehouses within the space, arguing a short lived pause was vital to deal with the “gaps in present laws” that enables for air pollution and congestion.

Within the memo outlining Amazon’s objectives for subsequent 12 months, the corporate says it plans to “earn the belief” of neighborhood teams and nonprofits, such because the San Bernardino Valley School Basis, Youngsters’s Fund, and Feeding America, to push again in opposition to state payments “that may proceed to threaten the area’s financial system, and Amazon’s pursuits.” The 2 payments cited embrace a state laws that, if handed, would prohibit corporations from constructing giant warehouses inside 1,000 toes (300 meters) of personal houses, residences, colleges, daycares and different amenities.

The memo additionally says the corporate plans to “positively have an effect on” legislative makes an attempt to ban single use plastic by “showcasing Amazon as a frontrunner in sustainability and counter the voices of environmental activists in opposition to Amazon.”

It additionally particulars native politicians Amazon is participating and says the corporate has “cultivated” Michael Vargas, the mayor of the city of Perris, by pandemic-related “donations to assist the area, touring him and his crew, and ongoing engagement.” Vargas didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Media protection is a high concern of Amazon’s. The doc previews the corporate’s objectives to generate constructive information tales for itself by charitable campaigns, together with by a meals drive hosted by the Los Angeles Meals Financial institution the place staff would drop off donations “in huge media moments which might be broadcasted/posted.” The memo prompt curating comparable moments throughout a back-to-school donation occasion and a vacation toy drive, the place drop offs happen and Amazon executives, in addition to teams who obtain grants from the corporate, “discuss Amazon’s influence” to the media.

The corporate moreover says it gained’t proceed to assist organizations that “didn’t end in measurable constructive influence” to its model and repute and can cease funding teams which might be antagonistic in direction of its curiosity. It famous it should cease donating to The Cheech, an artwork museum in Riverside, citing an incident this 12 months the place the middle exhibited an area artist who depicted an Amazon facility on hearth and gave an interview “expressing hostility” in direction of the corporate, the memo mentioned.

In a piece of the doc titled “Canine Not Barking,” the memo lists the three issues Amazon will watch carefully within the area subsequent 12 months: warehouse moratoriums, labor organizing amongst contracted supply drivers, and neighborhood teams that aren’t accepting charitable donations. It says some elected leaders have been hesitant to just accept political contributions from the corporate.

Sheheryar Kaoosji, the manager director of Warehouse Employee Useful resource Heart, mentioned in an announcement that the group works straight with Amazon warehouse staff within the area who constantly discuss low pay, excessive damage charges and different issues.