PARIS (Reuters) - A French court on Friday rejected Amazon’s (AMZN.O) appeal against a ruling that restricts what it can deliver during the coronavirus crisis, handing a victory to unions which had criticised the U.S. e-commerce giant’s safety measures.
Amazon must limit deliveries in France to IT products, health items, food and pet food, the Court of Appeal in Versailles said, upholding a previous order for the firm to curtail shipments while it improves its health protocols.
The decision is a blow for thousands of small businesses that sell through Amazon, and comes as firms across Europe are trying to figure out how to let staff safely return to offices and factories once coronavirus restrictions are eased.
But unions behind the claim hailed the verdict as a “David against Goliath” moment, at a time when Amazon is seeing a surge in demand but also facing labour unrest on both sides of the Atlantic over its handling of deliveries during the pandemic.
“Just because this is a giant U.S. company, it doesn’t mean it should not have to make efforts during this crisis. It is not above the law,” said Laurent Degousee of France’s Sud union.
The ruling “is also a warning to other companies, whether they are still operational or not, or looking to restart their activities,” he said.
Amazon’s six warehouses in France, where goods are packed up and dispatched, have been shut since April 16, after the initial court ruling last
