AECJ Membership Agreement
Last Updated: April 15, 2026
This agreement outlines our core values, an overview of our organizational structure, and our collective agreements with each other. By becoming a member of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (AECJ), you agree to uphold these shared values.
As members of AECJ, we recognize our unique position at Amazon to effect change and act in solidarity with our co-workers across the supply chain. When Amazon moves, so does the world. We’ve started a movement, won huge changes that have sent shockwaves across the world, and expanded imaginations around what’s possible when we, as workers, organize for transformational change.
We realize that we can't do it without being thoughtful about the core values and organizational structure we are building.
Core values
Intersectional climate justice: Climate change could not exist without systems like racism and colonialism that allowed unchecked resource theft and harm of both humans and the natural world. Climate justice requires that we take a larger lens than emissions and instead center the voices of those most marginalized and impacted. In doing so, we have the best shot at taking on something as all-encompassing as the climate crisis.
Anti-racism and feminism: Anti-racism, feminism, and other struggles against systems of oppression are central to our culture and work. They are also at the root of solutions to the climate crisis, which is why we invest in the leadership development and voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) workers and community members.
Worker power: We are transforming our social contract to one where workers hold collective decision-making power and corporations take responsibility for impacts on our planet and communities. Our focus is organizing corporate tech workers and acting in solidarity with other Amazon workers across the supply chain.
Relational: Relationships and trust are the bedrock of organizing. Joy, connection, and fun are our secret sauce. We delight in our relationships with one another, creating supportive, safe environments for people to bring their full selves. This helps sustain us through the grief of recognizing injustice in our world and the fear of facing power to organize for transformational climate justice.
Membership Layers
Our work is moved by Amazon employees who invest financially and with varying levels of time. When you join, we’ll meet with you to determine which layer of membership fits best for you. Membership layers are fluid and members move between them as they experience changes in capacity, life circumstances, or role at Amazon. As your circumstances change, we ask that you communicate regarding the membership level that is right for you at a given time. All members pay dues:
Active Members: Members who are moving organizational work and are eligible to take on leadership positions.
General Members: Members who have some capacity for taking action but are not regularly engaging in the everyday work of campaigns. They are eligible to attend member assemblies and vote.
Sustainer Members: Members who, due to their position at the company, have more risk and therefore are involved by contributing to the work financially.
Organizational structure: How we come together
Workgroups. Led by one or more elected members. Workgroups decide their own meeting frequency, typically every week, but can vary depending on the current campaign. Active members only, but general members can become active members by joining a workgroup.
Race-based caucuses. In multi-racial spaces like Amazon, people of color (POC) face the most harm from structural racism and often carry the additional burden of educating others. In AECJ, the POC caucus and the white caucus provide contexts in which we focus on anti-racism, creating space for members to share honestly and better stand shoulder to shoulder with one another. You can read more about the benefits of race-based caucuses here. Frequency varies based on caucus leads and campaigns, but at least 1-2 times per year. General and active members only.
Member assembly. Called when we have membership-wide discussions, brainstorms, and decision making. Frequency varies based on current campaigns, but at minimum meets 2 times per year for elections and financial review. General and active members only.
Membership rights and responsibilities. General and active members vote to approve campaign actions, to elect leadership, and on major changes to policies and structure. Serving in elected leadership positions is limited to active members
Our collective agreements
Participation: Sustainer members are financial contributors to AECJ's work, and may take part in public actions. General members are invited to attend member assemblies and participate in actions. Active members do their best to participate in AECJ meetings, including: member assemblies, race-based caucuses, and a workgroup. As capacity may fluctuate with work and life, the door is open to move between general and active membership if a member either needs to step away from more active participation or has bandwidth to participate more. It is expected that members communicate with team members and leads as their participation changes.
Dues: Our goal is to be an independent organization, funded by and accountable to workers. We ask members to choose a dues level between 1% – 2.3% of your total compensation to invest in growing our movement. 2.3% maps to 4 hours per month, demonstrating a pledge that we recognize the potential of our organizing project and are invested in realizing that potential.
Security and safety: I will practice security policies to keep people safe
I will not share the identity of anyone in AECJ without their consent.
I will not share strategy or campaign plans unless AECJ has made it public.
I will keep organizing tools and data off of work devices.
Anti-oppression: I will work to learn and practice our core values, knowing that anti-racism and other anti-oppression frameworks take active work to implement. While mistakes are often a part of learning, I commit to being open to listening and reflecting if my words or actions have a negative impact on others.