Former Amazon employees Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa released a statement saying that Amazon has agreed to pay them back wages and must also inform all of its tech and warehouse workers across the country that employees cannot be fired for organizing and exercising their rights. The settlement was described by Cunningham and Costa as a victory for protecting workers' rights. The two women claim they were terminated last year for advocating for climate change action and addressing concerns about warehouse workers. Amazon argues that the employees violated internal policies. Amazon spokesperson Jose Negrete stated that a mutual agreement has been reached to resolve the legal issues. This settlement comes at a crucial time for Amazon, as the company aims to be a top employer and is seeking to hire thousands of new employees in the United States. Cunningham and Costa, both former designers at Amazon's Seattle headquarters, were part of a group that urged the company to take action on climate change and formed a group called Amazon Employees for Climate Justice. They garnered support from over 8,700 Amazon colleagues for their cause. Over time, Cunningham and Costa expanded their demonstrations. They were informed by Amazon that their public statements about the company had violated its external communication policy. In response, their group mobilized 400 employees to also speak out, deliberately violating the policy to make a statement. At the beginning of the pandemic, they organized an internal event for warehouse workers to discuss workplace safety conditions with tech employees. Shortly after, Amazon terminated both women. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wrote a letter to Amazon expressing worries about possible retribution, and Tim Bray, an internet pioneer and former vice president at Amazon's cloud computing division, resigned in protest. This spring, lawyers from the National Labour Relations Board supported Costa and Cunningham's claims that they were terminated for organizing activities. The NLRB's Seattle office filed a case against Amazon, alleging that the company applied its External Communications and Solicitation policies unfairly to prevent employees from participating in protected activities. The hearing was postponed as the parties negotiated a settlement. This is one of several disputes Amazon has had with the NLRB during the pandemic, including a recommendation to invalidate a union election in Bessemer, Alabama. Amazon denies any wrongdoing and plans to appeal if the recommendation is upheld.