SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 28 (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Bernie

Sanders on Tuesday called on Amazon.com ( AMZN ) founder Jeff

Bezos to account for what the Vermont independent said were

hundreds of thousands of potential lost jobs due to automation.

"If Amazon ( AMZN ) succeeds on its massive automation plan, it will

have a profound impact on blue-collar workers throughout America

and will likely be used as a model by large corporations

throughout America," Sanders wrote in a letter to Bezos, which

was exclusively reviewed by Reuters.

Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats, was referring to a

New York Times article published earlier this month that cited

documents and interviews showing that Amazon ( AMZN ) executives believe

500,000 jobs could be cut over time by replacing warehouse

workers with robots. Amazon ( AMZN ) employs 1.55 million people, the

majority of whom are hourly workers.

Amazon ( AMZN ) didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

It has said its automation goals are to assist workers and

create new jobs.

On Monday, Reuters reported Amazon ( AMZN ) planned to cut as many as

30,000 corporate jobs beginning Tuesday, as it pares expenses.

In the letter, Sanders asked Bezos whether Amazon ( AMZN ) planned to

provide laid-off workers with sufficient severance payments and

some continuation of their health-care coverage. He also noted

that Amazon ( AMZN ) workers have received federal subsidies for food,

housing and health care and the company has received "billions

of dollars" in federal contracts.

"What are Amazon's ( AMZN ) plans to provide help and support for the

many hundreds of thousands of workers you'll be replacing with

robots and AI?" said Sanders, referring to artificial

intelligence software.

Bezos is now executive chairman and no longer runs day-to-day

operations at Amazon ( AMZN ) after the company appointed Andy Jassy as

chief executive in 2021. Jassy said earlier this year that

advancements in AI would lead to a shrinking corporate workforce

at the Seattle-based firm.

Sanders has frequently sparred with Amazon ( AMZN ) and Bezos,

particularly over warehouse working conditions, but also what he

has called union-busting tactics.