Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have formally requested the Department of Labor to investigate the labor practices of Amazon.com Inc.  Concern has been raised over the need to repeat an election by workers in an Alabama warehouse who voted not to unionize.  Subsequent investigations disclosed interference by the company.

The requested investigation will also address worker safety following the collapse of a fulfillment center during a mid-December tornado in Illinois. Currently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the causes leading to the death of six workers.  According to the letter, Amazon workers have expressed concerns regarding emergency response training and Company management ignoring toronado warnings.

 Amazon is responsible for employment of one out of every 170 U.S. workers, justifying the intercession of the two Senators.